Tragopogon porrifolius | purple salsify

This plant will not be available in 2026, however, propagation is planned/underway. Please sign up for the waitlist below to receive updates on availability in future years.

Purple salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius), also known as oyster-plant, vegetable oyster, and winter asparagus, is an edible root vegetable and a lovely decorative biennial. Glaucous, grass like-foliage is topped by large purple daisy flowers in the summer of its second year. The flowers give way to lovely, over-sized dandelion-like seedheads.

The roots of this plant are edible (though we have yet to taste them) and should be eaten before the plant begins to bloom.

Easy to grow in almost all conditions, but prefers full sun and loose, warm soil.

Zone: 6 to 9
Family: Asteraceae
Type: Biennial
Height: 24 to 48 in.
Spread: 12 to 18 in.
Exposure: full sun
Conditions: sandy, loamy, clay
Bloom Time: June to August
Native Range: the Canary Islands, portions of Europe, North Africa, and Saudi Arabia