Bladder Desert-parsley
Lomatium utriculatum
Care
full sun, part shade
2–2ft tall
Friendly
Seeds ground into flour; roots cooked; traditional Indigenous food
Dry grasslands and open woodlands of the Sierra Nevada foothills and surrounding regions from Kern County to Butte County, below 4000 ft elevation, extending to Oregon.
Care Guide
Planting
Plant your Bladder Desert-parsley in full sun to part shade. This native perennial develops a slender taproot, so choose a location where it can establish deep roots without disturbance. Space plants about 12 inches apart to give them room to mature to their full 2-foot height.
After Planting
Water regularly during your plant's first growing season to help establish that deep taproot system. Once established, this drought-tolerant native should need minimal supplemental water. The biggest mistake gardeners make is overwatering or planting in poorly draining soil - this plant evolved in dry western habitats and will not tolerate wet feet, so err on the side of dry rather than moist.
Visit Calscape for more information about Bladder Desert-parsley
Wildlife Supported
Insects
Larvae feed on Apiaceae family plants including Lomatium; multiple generations March-September
Specialist nectar forager and pollinator on native Apiaceae
Generalist nectar visitor; multiple generations throughout growing season
Larvae utilize Apiaceae family plants; early spring emergence
Larvae feed on Apiaceae; multiple broods April-September in California