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 - L.

Common Name Bread Wheat, Common wheat
Family Poaceae or Gramineae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known in the wild.
Range Of uncertain origin, perhaps the Middle East or Armenia.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Full sun
Triticum aestivum Bread Wheat, Common wheat


commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Triticum_aestivum1.jpg
Triticum aestivum Bread Wheat, Common wheat
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:David.Monniaux

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Triticum aestivum is a ANNUAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft).
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 and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

T. vulgare.

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Seed - cooked. The seed can be cooked as a whole grain but it is more usually ground into a powder and used as a flour for making bread, fermented foods, pasta, cakes, biscuits etc[1, 13, 34, 57, 183]. High in gluten, it is the most common flour used for making bread. The seed can also be sprouted and then added to salads or juiced to make a healthy drink[183]. A nutritional analysis is available[218].

References   More on Edible Uses

Composition
Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food.
Seed (Fresh weight)
  • 340 Calories per 100g
  • Water : 13%
  • Protein: 11.7g; Fat: 2.2g; Carbohydrate: 72g; Fibre: 2g; Ash: 1.7g;
  • Minerals - Calcium: 40mg; Phosphorus: 377mg; Iron: 3.5mg; Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg; Potassium: 400mg; Zinc: 0mg;
  • Vitamins - A: 0mg; Thiamine (B1): 0.55mg; Riboflavin (B2): 0.11mg; Niacin: 4.8mg; B6: 0mg; C: 0mg;
  • Reference: [ 218]
  • Notes: The figures given here are the median of a range given in the report.

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.
Antibilious  Antihydrotic  Antipruritic  Antipyretic  Antivinous  Sedative  Skin  Stomachic


The young stems are used in the treatment of biliousness and intoxication[218]. The ash is used to remove skin blemishes[218]. The fruit is antipyretic and sedative[218]. The light grain is antihydrotic[176]. It is used in the treatment of night sweats and spontaneous sweating[176]. The seed is said to contain sex hormones and has been used in China to promote female fertility[218]. The seed sprouts are antibilious, antivinous and constructive[218]. They are used in the treatment of malaise, sore throat, thirst, abdominal coldness and spasmic pain, constipation and cough[176]. The plant has anticancer properties[218].

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  Size  Starch  Thatching

The straw has many uses, as a biomass for fuel etc, for thatching, as a mulch in the garden etc[13, 100, 141, 171]. 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].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Management: Standard  Staple Crop: Balanced carb  Under Development

An easily grown plant, it prefers a sunny position in a rich well-drained soil. Wheat is widely cultivated in most parts of the world, but less so in Asia, for its edible seed[13]. There are many named varieties[183]. This is a hexaploid species. Grows well with maize and with camomile in small quantities[18]. Dislikes dogwood, cherry, tulips, pine and poppies[18]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2].

Carbon Farming

  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Staple Crop: Balanced carb  (0-15 percent protein, 0-15 percent oil, with at least one over 5 percent). The carbohydrates are from either starch or sugar. Annuals include maize, wheat, rice, and potato. Perennials include chestnuts, carob, perennial fruits, nuts, cereals, pseudocereals, woody pods, and acorns.
  • Under Development  Plant breeders are actively working to domesticate these plants for cultivation, but they are not yet commercially available as crops. Examples include most of the perennial cereal grains.

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

Ble, Frumento, Gahum, Gahun, Gahung, Gam, Gandham, Gandum, Gawn, Gehun, Gendum, Ghavum, Giun, Godamba, Godhi, Godhuma, Godumai, Godumbayarisi, Gom, Goodhumalu, Govum, Kanak, Kotanpam, Saatweizen, Tirigu, Trigo, Xaio mai, aabguwan, amylum tritici, blé, blé ordinaire, bread wheat, common wheat, dinkel, dinkel wheat, escanda, escaña, espelta, farro, froment, fructus tritici levis, frumento, frumento tenero, fu xiao mai, fuxiaomai, gam, gandum, gehun, godhuma, godumai, godumulu, hantha, hulled wheat, komugi, light wheat grain, mil, nishasta-e-gandum, pivla-potia, refined wheat-germ oil, saatweizen, spelt, spelt wheat, speltvete, spelz, trigo, trigo blando, trigo candeal, tritici aestivi oleum raffinatum, tritici aestivi oleum virginale, tritici amylum, tritici levis fructus, tritici levis semen, vete, virgin wheat-germ oil, weizen, wheat, wheat bran, wheat starch, wheat-germ oil, refined, wheat-germ oil, virgin, xiao mai, épeautre.

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

Africa, Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Britain, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Canada, Central Africa, Chad, China, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Norway, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, SE Asia, Siberia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

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 : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Triticum aestivum compactumClub WheatAnnual0.6 -  LMHNM203
Triticum aestivum machaMakha WheatAnnual0.0 -  LMHNM203
Triticum aestivum speltaSpelt WheatAnnual1.0 -  LMHNM403
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.

Botanical References

17

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Readers comment

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  
© 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.