Vegetable Oyster Plant Tragopogon porrifolius

Purple Goat's Beard is an ornamental, biennial wildflower with an edible root. It is often found along roadsides, vacant lots, woodlands, and grasslands. The plant is a member of the Asteraceae or Aster family. There are many common names including Oyster Plant and Purple Salsify.

The wildflower is native to the Canary Islands, portions of Europe, North Africa, and Saudi Arabia.

The origin of the genus name, Tragopogon, is derived from two Greek words. Tragos means "goat," and pogon means "beard." Beard references the feathery hairs produced when the plant produces fruit. The common name Oyster Plant references the flavor of the roots that supposedly taste like oysters. Purple Goat's Beard references the color of the flowers and the derivation of the genus name. The definition of Salsify is an edible European plant with a long root like a parsnip.

Purple Goat's Beard performs best in full sun and sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It reproduces by seeds, and the seeds require 8-10 days to germinate. They should be sown in late summer or early winter. In the first year, the vegetative parts are developed, and in the second year, the purple or mauve-colored flowers evolve.

The plant has a thick and fleshy taproot. The young plant is in a form of a rosette until the flower stem forms. The rosette and stem leaves are grass-like. The flowers bloom from April to August. They are mauve-colored ray florets that look much like a daisy. The fruit looks like a dandelion puffball. The seed is in the brownish fluffy pappus and is easily dispersed by the wind.

The Purple Goat's Beard has ornamental, edible, and herbal properties. The flowers and grass-like leaves would add interest to a Wildflower Garden or Cottage Garden. The young shoots of the plant may be used like asparagus. The roots are best harvested in the late fall and during the winter. 

The Purple Goat's Beard hybridizes with the Yellow Goat's Beard (Tragopogon pratensis) to produce Tragopogon x mirabilis. This hybrid has dual-colored flower petals. The inner petals are yellow and the outer edges are purple.

Quick ID Hints:

• larger species, up to 4 feet tall
• the foliage is grasslike with uncurled leaves
• the flowers are purple to mauve-colored, daisy-like
• the fruits are like dandelion puffballs
• the edible root tastes like oysters

Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems:

This plant has very few pests or diseases. White rust and powdery mildew are possible. Mice and voles may eat the roots over the winter.