Plant Details

Conopodium majus

Pignut

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Conopodium majus.

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Common names

13 names · 12 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (11)
Dutch
  • Franse aardkastanje[1]
French
  • Bulbocastanum
  • Conopode dénudé[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Danish
Faroese
  • stór jarðarnøt[1]
Finnish
Irish
Norwegian
Russian
  • Коноподиум большой[1]
Slovak
  • buľkovec väčší[1]
Swedish
  • nötkörvel[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Conopodium majus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Pignut — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 61424; Conopodium majus.
  • Franse aardkastanje — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 61424; Conopodium majus.
  • Conopode dénudé — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 61424; Conopodium majus.
  • Svinenød — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 61424; Conopodium majus.
  • jordnøtt — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 61424; Conopodium majus.
  • nötkörvel — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 61424; Conopodium majus.
  • stór jarðarnøt — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 61424; Conopodium majus.
  • Коноподиум большой — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 61424; Conopodium majus.
  • Cúlarán — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 61424; Conopodium majus.
  • 锥足草 — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 61424; Conopodium majus.
  • sianputki — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 61424; Conopodium majus.
  • buľkovec väčší — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 61424; Conopodium majus.

General information

Scientific name: Conopodium majus
Accepted name (Kew): Conopodium majus (Gouan) Loret View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Apiaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Conopodium (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Pignut

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.30 m
Spread: - m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6-9
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Root
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
None

Description

Tubers can be eaten both raw and cooked. They have a flavor reminiscent of a mix between sweet potato and hazelnuts, with a warm aftertaste of radish. Some also associate the taste with Brazil nuts. Only one tuber grows per plant; it is quite small and difficult to harvest, but the size can likely be increased by applying good cultivation methods.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/05
Harvest ends: 30/06

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1354510; name ID 2735336; Conopodium W.D.J.Koch. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1354525; name ID 2735379; Conopodium majus (Gouan) Loret.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Conopodium majus

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 5365453, ID XSFF: Conopodium majus (Gouan) Loret (accepted).

    Source checked on .