Oenanthe spp.
water dropwort
Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America
Overview
Oenanthe is a genus of about 40 species of herbaceous plants in the family Apiaceae, growing in wet ground across Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America. Members are known as water dropworts. They are perennials or biennials of marshes, ditches, streambanks, and shallow water, with hollow, ridged stems 30-150 cm (12-59 in) tall and finely divided, fern-like compound leaves. Flat-topped compound umbels of tiny white flowers open in summer, followed by small ribbed fruits. Roots range from slender and fibrous to swollen, tuberous clusters depending on species. The genus spans a wide chemical range. Several species, including hemlock water dropwort (O. crocata) and O. aquatica, contain the polyacetylene toxin oenanthotoxin; all parts, especially the roots, can cause fatal poisoning in humans and livestock. Other species, notably O. javanica, are grown as a leafy vegetable and herb across East and Southeast Asia, where the young shoots are eaten cooked or raw. Toxic and edible species can resemble one another closely, and the genus therefore includes both deadly wetland plants and cultivated greens.
Native Range
Oenanthe occurs across Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America, in marshes, wet meadows, ditches, streambanks, and shallow fresh water. Several species are widespread, while others are restricted to particular regions such as western Europe or East Asia.Suggested Uses
Oenanthe javanica and a few related species are grown as wetland vegetables and pond-edge herbs, including variegated forms used as marginal plants. The toxic species are not cultivated and are managed as hazards in pasture and waterway settings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 4'11"
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
Most species flower in summer, roughly June to August, carrying compound umbels of small white flowers. These give way to ribbed, egg-shaped fruits a few millimetres long that ripen in late summer and autumn.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight