Peltaria turkmena

Peltaria turkmena is in the mustard family, Brassicaceae. Its home range spans northeastern Iran and southern Turkmenistan. Kew places it in a temperate climate. The sources differ on how long it lives. Kew calls it an annual, a plant that lives one year. Plants For A Future calls it an evergreen perennial. This means it stays green and lives for years. These claims leave its life span unclear. The RHS states it is not native to Britain or Ireland.

Plants For A Future gives a small garden size. Plants reach about 1.6 feet (0.5 metres) tall. They grow 1 foot (0.3 metres) wide. The source reports fast growth, but ground cover spreads more slowly. This cover can help keep weeds down. The source suggests sites at woodland edges or in dappled shade. It says the leaves stay green through winter. Yet plants in flower may lose their leaves for one or two months.

Flowers bloom from April to May; seeds ripen in June. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects carry pollen to the flowers. Plants For A Future suggests sun or light shade. It favours light, rich soil that stays moist. Sand and loam suit it. The soil can range from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. The source says it is easy to grow and withstands neglect. It lists USDA zones 5–9 and says the plant tolerates frost.

You can eat the leaves raw or cooked. Their strong taste has hints of garlic and mustard. Small amounts can spice up salads through much of the year. Leaves may taste bitter in summer, more so in dry, sunny sites. You can eat the flowers raw; they taste much like the leaves. Cutting back stems in flower can spur fresh leaf growth. Plants For A Future reports no known hazards. This does not prove it is safe for pets or every person.

Grow more plants from seed or by dividing them. Sow seeds in spring or autumn in a cold frame. The source says seeds sprout fast. Move seedlings into pots once they are large enough to handle. Plant them out in summer. Divide plants in spring or autumn, and keep the soil moist. Give winter divisions time to take root under greenhouse cover. Then plant them out in late spring. The sources name no pests or diseases. They list no known use as medicine and do not flag weed potential.