It prefers moist, well-drained soil in partial shade and establishes well in woodland settings.

Can I eat the tubers?

Yes, they are edible, but only consume them if you are 100 percent certain of your identification.

Plant guide

Pignut.

Conopodium majus

Pronounced koh-no-POH-dee-um MAY-jus

Also known as Pignut, earthnut

The pignut is a charming perennial wildflower that grows from a small, edible tuber. It is often found tucked away in woodlands and meadows across Europe. You will love its delicate, lacy foliage and tiny white flowers.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: perennial herb
Light: partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 5 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

This plant prefers cool, moist soil that drains well. Watch for wilting if the soil dries out too much during the growing season. It naturally goes dormant after flowering, so do not worry when the foliage fades.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active spring growth phase.
Pruning: Remove dead foliage once the plant enters dormancy in late summer.
Repotting: Repot only when the tuber has clearly outgrown its current container.
Soil: moist, well drained, loamy
Soil pH: neutral to slightly acidic
Temperature: -15 to 25°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered safe, but confusion with toxic Apiaceae family members poses a severe risk.
Children: Keep children away from the tubers to prevent accidental ingestion of misidentified toxic lookalikes.
Contact allergens: Handling the foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is not typically considered a significant allergen.
Edibility: The tubers are edible but must be correctly identified, as they resemble those of highly toxic hemlock species.

How to identify it

Lacy, fern like basal leaves
Small white flowers in umbels
Edible, nut like underground tuber
Slender, branching stems

Height: 0.3 to 0.6m
Spread: 0.15 to 0.3m
Leaves: bright green, deciduous
Flowers: white, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: brown, late summer

Problems to watch for

Slugs · Slugs may feed on the young foliage in early spring.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: autumn, spring
Overwintering: The plant survives as a dormant tuber underground during winter. No special protection is needed in its native climate range.
In containers: It is not well-suited for containers due to its specific woodland soil and dormancy requirements.

Seed

Collect seeds when they turn brown in late summer.
Sow seeds immediately in a cold frame or directly into the garden.
Ensure the soil remains moist throughout the winter germination period.

Plant in groups with other spring ephemerals to ensure a continuous display as the pignut goes dormant.

Grows well with

Bluebell · They share similar woodland habitat requirements and bloom times.
Wood Anemone · This plant provides a lovely ground cover that complements the pignut's delicate foliage.

Similar species

Cow Parsley · It has a similar flower structure but is much larger and more aggressive.

Science

Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Conopodium
Order: Apiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Western and Central Europe
Conservation: It is common in its native range and not currently of conservation concern.

It thrives in deciduous woodlands and meadows where it can complete its growth cycle before the canopy fully closes.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: wildflower meadows, woodland gardens, edible landscapes

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 4/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it easy to grow?: It prefers moist, well-drained soil in partial shade and establishes well in woodland settings.
Can I eat the tubers?: Yes, they are edible, but only consume them if you are 100 percent certain of your identification.

Where the name comes from

Conopodium comes from the Greek words for cone and foot, referring to the shape of the tuber, while majus means larger.

Good to know

The common name pignut comes from the fact that pigs enjoy digging up and eating the tubers.
It is a member of the carrot family.
The plant goes dormant in mid-summer after flowering.

Keep your pignut growing

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.