ALEXANDERS
The plant takes its name from a city in Egypt, or from a famous Macedonian general, or it is a corruption of the Latin.
There may not be a definitive answer, but it is called alexanders. It is a herb and vegetable once widely grown but now largely confined to the hedgerows.
I have often seen alexanders in Cornish and East Anglian hedges in spring, growing near the sea and standing about four feet tall, with clusters of yellowish flowers in umbrella shapes. It has the scent of celery, but I have never tried eating it.
I now learn that every part of the plant is edible – seeds, leaves, stems and roots – which suggests to me that alexanders should be revived in the vegetable garden. Though it…
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The Oldie (Digital) - 1 Issue, April 2025