Kellogg's Yampah
Perideridia kelloggii
Care
full sun
very low
Fast, Medium, Slow; Adaptable.
5–5ft tall
Jun-Aug
Friendly
Tubers eaten raw or roasted; traditional Indigenous food
Meadows and wet grasslands of the Sierra Nevada and surrounding mountains from Kern County to Modoc County, 4000-8000 ft elevation.
Care Guide
Planting
Plant Kellogg's yampah in full sun in a location with fast to slow draining soil - it's adaptable and will tolerate a range of conditions. Choose a spot in your garden that stays on the drier side, as this plant thrives on very low water once established. Plant in fall or winter when the soil is workable, giving the plant time to settle in before summer heat arrives.
After Planting
Water moderately during your plant's first growing season to help it establish its deep root system, then gradually reduce watering as it matures - by year two, this plant should need only very low supplemental water, even during Bay Area summers. Expect your yampah to flower from June through August with delicate white umbel clusters. The #1 mistake is overwatering: this native thrives in lean conditions and will rot or decline if kept too moist, so err on the side of dry once established.
Endangered & Threatened Species Supported
California state threatened species
Wildlife Supported
Insects
Larvae feed on Apiaceae family plants including Perideridia; multiple generations Mar-Oct in California
Multiple broods use various plant species; phenology varies by region
Migratory species using wildflowers for nectar during spring and fall passage
Adult feeding on flowering plants; peak activity Apr-Jul