Cleome serrulata Rocky Mountain beeplant (Capparidaceae)

Browse Plants Articles

Power Search!

Browse Botanic Names

Sponsored By KhorWills

Cleome serrulata
Rocky Mountain beeplant
(1 Page of 5)

The Cleome serrulata plant species is found in Western N. America - Washington to Saskatchewan and south to California.. It is a member of the Capparidaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Rocky Mountain beeplant. Some home gardeners know the variety as Cleome integrifolia. Peritoma integrifolia.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Cleome serrulata
Common Name:  Rocky Mountain beeplant
Family:  Capparidaceae
Author:  Pursh.

Known Hazards:  None known

Mature Height:  1   Mature Width:

Habitat:  Waste land, plains and lower mountains[60], often on sandy soils[85].

Edible Uses: Young shoots, leaves and flowers are cooked and used as potherbs[46, 105, 161, 183]. The plants were gathered and, after removing an alkaline taste[46], were eaten with cornmeal porridge[61, 183]. The plant smells like a skunk, but it was an important potherb for the native North American Indians and the early European settlers in America[207]. Seed - raw or cooked[257]. It can be dried and ground into a meal then used as a mush or mixed with flour to make bread etc[85, 183, 207, 257]. Seedpods - cooked[183]. The hardened cakes of dyestuff (see note on the plants other uses) can be soaked in hot water and then eaten fried[207].

For further Cleome serrulata gardening information
click on one of the blue links below

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
View their bibliography
Useful Edible Plants Future