Gairdner’s Yampah

Gairdner’s yampah is a slender, carrot-like perennial herb found in prairies, open forests, and well-drained meadows across western North America. It produces finely divided, feathery leaves at the base and tall, smooth stems topped with airy, white umbels that resemble miniature Queen Anne’s lace. Blooming from mid-summer into early fall, it supports a wide range of pollinators and plays a modest but steady role in native grassland structure. Historically valued as an edible root by many tribes, it remains an important cultural and ecological species in intact prairie and savanna landscapes.

All parts of this plant are edible including the roots, the leaves, and the seeds which have a flavor similar to caraway. But beware, there are many similar-looking plants in the carrot family (umbelliferae) that are toxic or even lethal!