Prairie Turnip (Pediomelum esculentum) 3-pack of pots
Can’t be shipped.
Note: We don’t have Prairie Turnip available this year.
Prairie Turnip is a sought-after plant of the dry prairies. It is a short flower at roughly 1 foot tall and has a few bunches of light purple flowers in the early summer. The root, or tuber, is edible and was commonly dried, braided, and stored by Native Americans. It is native to dry prairies—often with sandy or rocky soils. After blooming, the seed heads dry up and fall off the plant, tumbling around and spreading the seed.
Prairie Turnip needs sunny, dry, well-drained soil—any clay or moist soil will probably rot the turnip tubers during winter.
Details
Perennial
Sun: Full Sun
Moisture: Dry
Height: 12 – 18 inches
Blooms: May, June, July
Color: Purple
Spacing: 1′
Spreads: Doesn’t spread much
Zones: 3-7
Benefits: Pollinators
Design Tips
Prairie Turnip is a short prairie plant that is best planted around dry borders. It does best in very well-drained soil—it doesn’t survive well in soils with clay content. Plant Prairie Turnip (Pediomelum esculentum) with other short-grass prairie plants such as Prairie Smoke, Butterfly Milkweed, and Rough Blazing Star.
Great native plant choice for the Minnesota Lawns to Legumes grant program!
Companion Plants
Blue Eyed Grass
Prairie Smoke
Butterfly Milkweed
Rough Blazing Star
Blue Grama Grass
