Salsify
Tragopogon porrifolius
Also called Oyster plant, Vegetable oyster and Purple goat's beard
Garden plant · Herbs, veg & fruitA long thin white root that tastes faintly of oysters, under a clump of leaves that look like grass — so mark the row or you will weed it out. Lift after the first frost, which sweetens it, and scrub rather than peel.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 4 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Not needed
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a very cold winter RHS H6, to -20°C
- Size
- 0.6 m tall · 0.15 m across
- Lifecycle
- Biennial
- Origin
- The Mediterranean
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-21. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.