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Cow Parsnip Seeds

Cow Parsnip Seeds - Heracleum maximum - Pushki

Heracleum maximum
Pushki
  • Hardy to Zone 3
  • Full Sun to Partial Shade
  • Germination Tested Not tested
  • Approximately 60 seeds per pack
$6.95 CAD
$6.95 CAD
Sale Sold out

Cow Parsnip is a delicious and stately moisture-loving biennial or sometimes perennial vegetable, native to Turtle Island, and eaten by people all over the world. It also has medicinal uses.

The leaves, flower buds, immature seeds, and dried seeds can all be eaten. They have a strong flavour and you'll likely want to start with eating only small amounts, cooked. Interestingly, fermented cow parsnip was the key ingredient in the original Borcht, before it was made with beets!

The young leaves can be used similarly to parsley. The older leaves can be used to wrap food during cooking. The young flower buds can be battered and deep fried like broccoli. They are called Zavirne in Italy. The green seeds are very aromatic and are used to infuse vodka (I think this would be great in a caesar!). And the mature dried seeds are called golpar, an ancient Persian seasoning.

This plant can grow over 6 feet tall and prefers wet feet- it can often be found growing on roadsides, ditches, and near streams. The flowers are beloved by pollinators. 

CAUTION: As with any plant in the carrot family, you should not allow the sap to touch your skin, as the sap can react with sunlight and can cause nasty burns. Use gloves when working with these plants and wash skin thoroughly afterwards. I recommend only eating cooked plant parts.

Forager Chef has a great article about identifying and eating Cow Parsnip, and a very delicious-looking cow parsnip bud tempura recipe!

I collected these seeds in summer 2025 near Princeton, BC.

Growing Instructions

These seeds may be tricky to germinate, possibly requiring 2 cold cycles to sprout. I'd recommend sowing in pots outdoors in fall or winter- you may get some seed sprouting that spring. Prick them out and leave the pots for another year or 2 outdoors to allow the rest of the seeds to sprout.

Shipping & Returns

By placing an order, customers agree to the shipping & refund policies detailed on this page.

Most orders are sent via Canada Post to keep costs low.

 

Shipping within Canada 

We ship seeds in Canada via Canada Post's regular letter mail, which is an untracked service, and usually takes 1-4 weeks to arrive once we fulfill your order, but occasionally letter mail takes up to 6 weeks, especially to the Eastern provinces and rural areas.

Customers can now opt for tracked, express shipping options at checkout if you require faster delivery and/or tracking.

Larger bulbs and plants are usually sent via tracked flat rate box.

 

Shipping to the US

UPDATE FEB 2, 2026: WE ARE TAKING A BREAK ON ACCEPTING US ORDERS DUE TO ISSUES WITH USPS

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Shipping Internationally

International customers can select tracked or untracked shipping at checkout. The package will list the contents as "Garden Seeds". It is your responsibility to ensure you have the required import permit. We are not able to send any live plant materials internationally. Cicada Seeds will not be responsible for any orders held or confiscated by customs, or for any additional duties or tariffs placed on your order.

International shipping countries include: Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom. (List updated Aug 31, 2026)

This list may change without notice. Sometimes Canada Post will not allow us to ship to certain countries due to wars or natural disasters, see this page for delivery service alerts.

 

Refund Policy

Refunds: We stand behind our seeds, so if for some reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, please reach out to us via email and we will do our best to make it right. Please note that shipping costs are non-refundable. 

Cancelled orders: If you wish to cancel an order after purchasing, we may refund your order minus card processing and admin fees at our discretion. We do not accept returns on seeds or plants.

Refused orders: We cannot issue a refund if you refuse to accept or do not claim an order we've mailed to you, or made available for local pickup. 

Incorrect addresses: Please double check your mailing address, and let us know ASAP if you've entered an incorrect address at checkout. We may need to charge for additional shipping fees to resend orders.

Ecologically Grown

Seeds are grown ecologically without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers.

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