coastal hog fennel (Peucedanum japonicum) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Coastal hog fennel is a that grows on sandy and rocky shores in Asia. Its broad, blue-green leaves divide into rounded leaflets, and small white flowers form umbrella-shaped clusters in summer. It is not native to the United States.

Appearance

Appearance: This perennial usually stands about 1–3 ft (30–100 cm) tall and branches near the top.
Leaves: The broad, slightly leathery leaves divide into rounded leaflets, often with three lobes. Their blue-green cast and blunt teeth are useful field marks.
Flowers: Many small white flowers gather in smaller umbrella-shaped clusters that join into larger ones.
Flowering time: In its East Asian range, flowering is reported in summer; exact timing varies by region.
Fruit: The small oval fruits are hairy and have thick, winglike side ribs.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: coastal sand
rocky seashores
Range: Its native range runs from eastern and southeastern China through Korea and Japan to Taiwan and the Philippines. It is not native to the United States.
Preferred conditions: It grows on seashores and other exposed coastal ground, generally at low elevations.

Name and classification

About the name: A recent classification also calls it Sinopeucedanum japonicum.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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