Purple Salsify
ExplorePlants
Purple Salsify
tragopogon porrifolius
Purple Salsify is a beautiful flowering plant with bright purple blooms. Kids love to explore its fluffy seed heads that look like dandelions!
Habitat: Purple Salsify typically grows in meadows, grasslands, and along roadsides.
Appearance
The Purple Salsify has striking purple, star-shaped flowers that often close by midday. Its long, grass-like leaves grow from a robust stem, and developing seed heads resemble giant dandelion puffballs, but much larger.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusTragopogon
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Its fuzzy seed heads are giant versions of a dandelion's puffball!
Its root tastes like oysters or artichokes when cooked!
This plant has been cultivated since ancient Greek and Roman times!
You can often find its vibrant flowers only open in the morning!
Special abilities
Ability
Milky Sap Defense
Purple Salsify can release a sticky, milky sap when injured that helps it deter hungry herbivores from eating its leaves.
Ability
Seed Parachutes
Purple Salsify has fluffy seed heads with parachutes, which help it spread its seeds far and wide on the wind.
Ability
Solar Tracker
Purple Salsify flowers can track the sun's movement, always facing the light to attract more pollinators throughout the day.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-100 cm
- Flower Size
- 3-6 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Biennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers.
pollinates
Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
Visits the vibrant purple flowers for sustenance.
eats
European Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Browses on the leaves and young shoots of the plant.
eats
House Mouse
Mus musculus
May feed on the seeds or young plants.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
Common Salsify
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Purple Salsify?
30-100 cm
How big are the flowers on Purple Salsify?
3-6 cm
When does Purple Salsify bloom?
Summer
Is Purple Salsify edible?
Yes
Is Purple Salsify toxic?
None
What is Purple Salsify's lifecycle?
Biennial
How is Purple Salsify pollinated?
Insect
Where is Purple Salsify usually found?
Purple Salsify typically grows in meadows, grasslands, and along roadsides.
Snap Map
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