As legend has it, the presence of an Alexander plant means that ancient Romans were once on that very spot. Now, maybe this is a bit of an exaggeration, but we do know that this edible plant and herb was brought over by the Romans and for centuries was common in British cooking – but has now been very much replaced by celery.
This peppery plant is entirely edible and quite potent. The new shoots can be picked in
February until they start to flower and are similar to asparagus in terms of preparation and cooking methods. When the shoots become tough later in the the flowers and flower buds can be used like broccoli or cooked in a light batter. The seeds can be dried and used as a spice, a bit like black pepper. Also, the roots can be scrubbed, peeled and sliced and roasted like parsnip.There are a few Alexander plants dotted around the park – can you spot one?