Streptopus amplexifolius is a shade loving woodland plant known, amongst others, as twistedstalk, wild cucumber and watermelon berry and has an extensive wild range including North America, Europe and East Asia. It has been used traditionally by Native Americans for its edible spring cucumber flavoured shoots and the delicious berries are now in season and I’ve been dining on them recently! I’m saving the seed as I eat! Beware that they can be laxative in large quantities, but it’s unlikely you will be able to grow that many in your forest garden!
060916: Added pictures of Streptopus lanceolatus from Eastern North America and a comparison of the berries with amplexifolius!
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You can clearly see the characteristic twisted berry stalks in this shot!
The finishing touch to my breakfast!
I’ve tried this species from seed several times from different areas, but the only accession that has succeeded here originated at the Ringve Botanical Garden who kindly gave me this plant a few years ago.
Green transport…one of those plants is Streptopus amplexifolius :)
Streptopus amplexifolius in flower at the Ringve Botanical Garden
Seedlings..
The berries hang on the bushes long into the autumn
I was sent these seed in 2013, the plants originating from a wild population in Poland
Streptopus lanceolatus (syn S. roseus) also grows well in my garden
Streptopus lanceolatus (syn S. roseus) also grows well in my garden
Streptopus lanceolatus (syn S. roseus) on the left compared to S. amplexifolius
Streptopus lanceolatus (syn S. roseus)
Perennial vegetables, Edimentals (plants that are edible and ornamental) and other goings on in The Edible Garden
