Spanish Nut (Gynandriris sisyrinchium)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Frost limit
- −12.2 °C
Cultivation
Easily grown in a stiff limey soil in full sun. This species is not very hardy in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c. It is probably best grown in a bulb frame[K]. The flowers usually open in the afternoon and are faded by the morning.
Propagation
Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed should be sown as soon as possible in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division.
Edible uses
The root is edible raw or cooked and is also used as a spice. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
Habitat
Dry places near the coast.
Native range
Europe - Mediterranean.