Fedia cornucopiae

Fedia cornucopiae (23/03/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Spring to summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 35cm

Eventual Spread: 40cm

Hardiness: 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a

Family: Valerianaceae

Fedia cornucopiae is a herbaceous annual ruderal. Its mid green fleshy leaves are ovate with serrate margins and up to 15cm long. . Its hermaphrodite dark pink/ purple flowers and appear in terminal clumps.

Fedia cornucopiae Flower (23/03/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Fedia cornucopiae, commonly known as Cornucopia, Horn of Plenty, Fedia, African Valerian or Blood of Christ, is native to central and west Mediterranean Europe and north west Mediterranean Africa. In its native habitat it grows in open fields and rocky places. Its leaves are used as a salad crop in a number of Mediterranean countries.

The etymological root of the binomial name Fedia may be a corruption of the Greek name for Valerian, reader clarification would be welcome. Cornucopiae is from the Latin meaning ‘horn shaped (an emblem of abundance)’.

Fedia cornucopiae is of little use to the landscape architect, it may be grown for cut flowers.

Ecologically, Fedia cornucopiae is attractive to pollinating insects.

Fedia cornucopiae Leaf (23/03/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Fedia cornucopiae prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Fedia cornucopiae requires little maintenance.