We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Triticum aestivum spelta - (L.)Thell.

Common Name Spelt Wheat
Family Poaceae or Gramineae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Developed through cultivation, it is not known in a truly wild location.
Range Original habitat is obscure.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Full sun
Triticum aestivum spelta Spelt Wheat


commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Böhringer
Triticum aestivum spelta Spelt Wheat
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Böhringer

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Triticum aestivum spelta is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in).
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Seed - cooked[57, 61, 105]. It is usually ground into a flour and used as a cereal for making bread, biscuits etc. Pasta made from this grain has a delicious nutty flavour[183]. The seed retains its glumes when threshed[46].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Biomass  Mulch  Paper  Starch  Thatching

The straw has many uses, as a biomass for fuel etc, for thatching, as a mulch in the garden etc[141]. A fibre obtained from the stems is used for making paper[189]. The stems are harvested in late summer after the seed has been harvested, they are cut into usable pieces and soaked in clear water for 24 hours. They are then cooked for 2 hours in lye or soda ash and then beaten in a ball mill for 1½ hours in a ball mill. The fibres make a green-tan paper[189]. The starch from the seed is used for laundering, sizing textiles etc[46, 61]. It can also be converted to alcohol for use as a fuel.

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most well-drained soils in a sunny position. Succeeds in poor soils[171]. Spelt probably arose through cultivation around 8,000 years ago following a cross between T. dicoccum and Aegilops squarrosa. This cross contributed an extra protein gene to the seed, making a stronger flour that is more suitable for making bread. It is sometimes cultivated for its edible seed, especially in the hilly country of C. and N.W. Europe[50, 57, 183]. There are some named varieties[183]. It is becoming increasingly popular as a health-food crop, although it contains gluten it is said to be more nutritious than bread wheat and suitable for many people who are intolerant of the gluten in bread wheat A hexaploid species[142].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring or autumn in situ and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within a few days[K].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Triticum aestivumBread Wheat, Common wheatAnnual1.5 10-12  LMHNM422
Triticum aestivum compactumClub WheatAnnual0.6 -  LMHNM203
Triticum aestivum machaMakha WheatAnnual0.0 -  LMHNM203
Triticum aestivum sphaerococcumShot WheatAnnual0.0 -  LMHNM203
Triticum bicorne Annual0.0 -  LMHNM203
Triticum georgicum Annual0.0 -  LMHNM203
Triticum monococcumEinkornAnnual1.0 -  LMHNDM303
Triticum monococcum aegilopoidesWild EinkornAnnual1.0 -  LMHNM203
Triticum sovieticum Annual0.0 -  LMHNM203
Triticum timopheeviiSanduri, Timopheev's wheatAnnual0.0 0-0  LMHNM203
Triticum turgidumRivet WheatAnnual1.5 -  LMHNM403
Triticum turgidum carthlicumPersian WheatAnnual0.0 -  LMHNM203
Triticum turgidum dicoccoidesWild EmmerAnnual1.0 -  LMHNM203
Triticum turgidum dicocconEmmerAnnual0.0 -  LMHNDM303
Triticum turgidum durumDurum WheatAnnual1.0 10-12  LMHNM302
Triticum turgidum polonicumPolish WheatAnnual1.3 -  LMHNM303
Triticum turgidum turanicumKhurasan WheatAnnual1.2 -  LMHNM203
Triticum vaviloviVavilov's WheatAnnual0.0 -  LMHNM203

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

(L.)Thell.

Botanical References

50

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

edda smelansky   Sat Sep 12 2009

i d like to buy spelta bread, where can iget it?

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Triticum aestivum spelta  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.