How to Grow Lomatium Cous

Site cous biscuitroot in full sun or light shade. In the wild, this plant is found in both open fields and in pine and aspen forests, so it is adaptable in its light requirements.

Plant cous biscuitroot in lean, well-drained soil. Its natural habitat is dry, rocky soil and sandy stream beds, as well as burned or overgrazed land. In the home garden, it will grow best in rock gardens, on dry slopes and in unamended soils with good drainage.

Space plants 12 to 15 inches apart if planting in masses. The basal leaves on mature cous biscuitroot can reach 6 inches long, so leave some space between each plant for good drainage and air circulation.

Mark the location of your cous biscuitroot plants to avoid disturbing them during their long dormancy. The leaves disappear shortly after the plant finishes flowering. To avoid a large bare spot in your garden, interplant this wildflower with a native grass, such as little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) or sage (Salvia spp.), both of which grow under similar conditions.

Fertilize cous biscuitroot sparingly in early spring when new foliage appears. Apply a general-purpose garden fertilizer, using one-quarter to one-half of the recommended amount, depending on your soil. Plants grown in naturally rich soil do not need supplemental feeding.

Water the plants well when the purplish-green new foliage appears in the spring. Wait until the top 3 or 4 inches of the soil dries before watering again. The amount of water needed will depend on your soil composition and the weather. Since this plant grows naturally in dry, rocky soil, it's best to err on the side of dryness than to overwater. Discontinue watering when the flowers fade and the foliage starts to wither.

Remove faded flowers to direct all the plant's energy into strengthening the roots unless you want seeds for more plants. In that case, allow one or two flower clusters to dry naturally, then cut the flowers and put them in a paper bag to collect the seeds.