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Pepper Saxifrage

Pepper Saxifrage ©Wendy Carter

Pepper Saxifrage

Pepper Saxifrage ©Wendy Carter

Pepper saxifrage

Pepper saxifrage is a classic plant of unimproved hay meadows and roadside verges. It's upright, branching stems carry umbrella-like clusters of creamy-yellow, flowers in summer.

Scientific name

Silaum silaus

When to see

June to September

Species information

Statistics

Height: up to 60cm
Common.

Habitats

About

A member of the carrot family, Pepper saxifrage is found in a range of unimproved grasslands, from hay meadows to roadside verges, but generally prefers damper soils. It's presence is a good indicator of agriculturally unimproved meadows
. It flowers between June and September, displaying loose umbels (umbrella-like clusters) of yellowy-white flowers.

How to identify

Pepper saxifrage is a medium umbellifer with clusters of fine, cream or yellow flowers. It has small, branched, pinnate leaves with two to four leaflets.

Distribution

Widespread in England, particularly in the south and east of the country. Present in south of Scotland and eastern Wales.

Did you know?

Despite it's name, Pepper saxifrage doesn't taste of pepper!