Erigenia bulbosa aka Pepper And Salt

Erigenia bulbosa is a small perennial in the carrot family, Apiaceae. Its common names include harbinger of spring and pepper and salt. It comes from North America, from southern Ontario into the United States. Its range spans parts of the central and eastern states. It grows in temperate regions and is not native to Britain or Ireland. In the wild, it lives in rich, moist woodland.

The plant reaches about 0.66 feet (0.2 metres) in height. It forms a clump with little outward spread. Below ground, it has swollen, tuberous roots that store reserves. This low form suits small spaces within a woodland garden. More vigorous plants may crowd it out, so allow it some space. Its small size makes the choice of nearby plants important.

New growth and flowers appear very early in the year. The stated flowering season runs from February through April. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the flowers, and the species is also self-fertile. Its early flowering brings interest to shaded gardens at winter's end. The supplied sources give no further flower or fruit details.

Grow it in shade or the light shade of woodland. It needs soil that holds moisture and contains plenty of humus. Sandy, loamy, and clay soils can all suit it. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. A shaded rock garden pocket offers another place to grow it. It also fits a woodland edge or a less formal garden. Keep stronger neighbours from taking over its space. The sources do not give a hardiness zone or name specific pests or diseases.

Propagation is possible from seed or by dividing the tubers. Sow seed in a greenhouse during spring. Move seedlings into separate pots once large enough to handle. Keep them under glass through their first winter. Plant them out after frost risk passes in late spring or early summer. Plants For A Future lists the root as edible, raw or cooked. It also records a past use for toothache relief. That account does not identify the plant part used. The source reports no known hazards, but this does not establish complete safety.