Black Caraway (Bunium persicum)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Full sun
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. It is likely to prefer a well-drained light to medium soil in sun or light shade.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn.
Edible uses
Root - raw or cooked. Tastes like sweet chestnuts. Seed - used as a flavouring, a cumin substitute.
Habitat
Gentle exposed mountain slopes in C. Asia.
Native range
South-eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Siberia and Western Asia.
Scientific synonyms Elwendia persica