Large Indian Breadroot
Pediomelum esculentum
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Matt Lavin (www.flickr.com) from Bozeman, Montana, USA
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Pediomelum
- Species:
- Pediomelum esculentum
- USDA Symbol:
- PEES
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- blue, purple, white
- Food Forest:
- Contains edible parts
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, small mammals
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from deep taproot following fire. Historically associated with fire-maintained prairies.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to prairies and open woodlands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Hard seed coat requires scarification before cold stratification. Germination can be erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are scarified
Establishment: P. esculentum is found from Manitoba to Alberta south to Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri, Colorado, Montana and Wisconsin and Minnesota. It inhabits dry open hillsides and prairies.
Source: npn.rngr.net