Navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris) is an evergreen perennial plant from the stonecrop or Crassulaceae family. Other common names include pennywort, wall pennywort, penny pies, corn leaves and Venus's navel. It is native to the British Isles (mainly in western regions), Europe, North Africa and the Mediterranean. It can be found in damp acid conditions, often in rock crevices, on walls or steep banks.
Growing methods
Navelwort is easy to grow. Plants can be propagated from seed, plant division in the spring or from leaf cuttings. To propagate from seed, sow in the spring in trays using a seed compost. Barely cover the seed in with soil. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, place in larger pots and plant out into a permanent position during the summer.
Navelwort flowers are bell-shaped and pendant. They can be seen from June to August. The flowers sit on a thick upright spike. They are usually yellow or green, sometimes with a pinky tinge. The roots are shallow and easily damaged. Navelwort is in leaf all year round, grows to about 25cm in height and is hardy to about -15°C. Seeds ripen from July to September. This plant prefers damp well-drained soil in the sun or light shade.
Other uses
It has been used as a remedy in homeopathic and herbal medicine. Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine reports is as having an anodyne and demulcent action.
Issues
Pennywort (Umbilicus rupestris) is not Asiatic pennywort (Centella asiatica) which is used in Asian medicine.
Raw edible parts
Navelwort is a fleshy hairless plant. The leaves are scalloped at the edges and have a dimple or navel in the middle where the stem is attached. They are very distinctive and easy to recognise. Since the roots are so shallow and fragile, the plant can be easily dislodged. It is wise to use a small pair of scissors to snip off the leaves and be careful not to take too many from each plant.
The leaves are edible raw or cooked. They are great for salads being crunchy and usually mild in flavour. The flavour becomes a little stronger as the season progresses and can occasionally be slightly bitter depending on where the plant has grown.
Growing methods
Navelwort is easy to grow. Plants can be propagated from seed, plant division in the spring or from leaf cuttings. To propagate from seed, sow in the spring in trays using a seed compost. Barely cover the seed in with soil. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, place in larger pots and plant out into a permanent position during the summer.
Navelwort flowers are bell-shaped and pendant. They can be seen from June to August. The flowers sit on a thick upright spike. They are usually yellow or green, sometimes with a pinky tinge. The roots are shallow and easily damaged. Navelwort is in leaf all year round, grows to about 25cm in height and is hardy to about -15°C. Seeds ripen from July to September. This plant prefers damp well-drained soil in the sun or light shade.
Other uses
It has been used as a remedy in homeopathic and herbal medicine. Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine reports is as having an anodyne and demulcent action.
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| Navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris) in flower |
Issues
Pennywort (Umbilicus rupestris) is not Asiatic pennywort (Centella asiatica) which is used in Asian medicine.
Raw edible parts
Navelwort is a fleshy hairless plant. The leaves are scalloped at the edges and have a dimple or navel in the middle where the stem is attached. They are very distinctive and easy to recognise. Since the roots are so shallow and fragile, the plant can be easily dislodged. It is wise to use a small pair of scissors to snip off the leaves and be careful not to take too many from each plant.
The leaves are edible raw or cooked. They are great for salads being crunchy and usually mild in flavour. The flavour becomes a little stronger as the season progresses and can occasionally be slightly bitter depending on where the plant has grown.
Er, the top picture (the plant growing in a mossy sward) is not navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris), but marsh pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgare), a fairly common marshland plant.
ReplyDeleteThe difference is that the centre of the leaf in U rupestris has the little dimple (the "navel"), but Hydrocotyle leaves are nearly flat. Fortunately, as far as I can find out Hydrocotyle is not poisonous.
The other photo (the plant growing on a wall) is indeed navelwort, which is sometimes also called wall pennywort.
Hi Richard. You are absolutely right! Thanks for pointing it out. All the best to you.
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