Lepidium intermedium
A.Gray.
Spooner
Spooner
Spooner
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Seed
Condiment. Young leaves - raw or cooked. A hot cress-like flavour. Seed - dried and ground into a powder which can be used as a mush or mixed with cereal flours to make bread. The seed can also be used as a flavouring.
Where to Find It
Western N. America.
NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (British Columbia), United States (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah), Mexico (Baja California (Norte), Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Hidalgo, México, Morelos, Puebla)
How to Identify
Lepidium intermedium is a ANNUAL/BIENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
How to Grow
We have almost no 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 most parts of the country. This species is almost certainly a synonym for L. virginianum. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in most soils.
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
