Salsify (Sandwich Island)

Salsify is a hardy biennial that produces both greens and an edible root in the first year. An extremely hardy plant, it can over winter in many climates and once planted, can be harvest all the way through early spring. Unlike most garden vegetables, the tops of salsify tend to spread and look more like a clump of grass than anything else. The roots are beige, about the size of a large carrot, and bumpy like a parsnip.

Salsify is grown mostly for its roots, though the young shoots are also quite tasty, as are the flowers and flower buds. Unlike carrots or parsnips, salsify is both extremely easy to germinate and to care for. The plants are both generous and resilient, and when left as a biannual, offer up stunning flowers their second year.