Description
Common lomatium is also referred to as spring gold because of its early spring, bright, golden-yellow flowers. This perennial wildflower is a member of the carrot family and is native to western North America from British Columbia to southern California. A small plant, common lomatium grows to a maximum height of 1.5′ tall, but is usually smaller than that. Common lomatium grows in many habitat types, including chaparral, oak woodland, sunny open slopes, dry meadows, and openings in coniferous forest. Growing from a taproot, common lomatium is very drought tolerant and prefers well-drained soil. A larval host plant for the anise swallowtail butterfly, many small pollinating insects are also attracted to the yellow umbel flowers. Long-used as a traditional food by Native American tribes and as a medicinal plant.
Common lomatium (Lomatium utriculatum) seed packets contain approximately 70 seeds.
Seed Germination Instructions
This species requires 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. If you live in an area with cold enough winters you can simply sow the seeds outside in fall to early spring and let nature do the work, or if you live in an area with mild winters, you can use artificial methods for stratification. For more information about cold-stratification and seed germination, read more on our website here.
