The Scientific Literature on Selected Herbs, and Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of the Temperate Zone. Fenugreek, Trigonella foenum-graecum L., is an erect annual herb native to southern Europe and Asia. The plant reaches a height of 0.3 to 0.8 meters and has trifoliate leaves. White flowers appear in early summer and develop into long, slender, yellow-brown pods containing the brown seeds of fenugreek commerce. The plant thrives in full sun on rich, well-drained soils.
Growth is slow and weak in cold temperatures and wet soils.
As a leguminous plant, fenugreek needs little if any nitrogen fertilizer, and the plant can enrich soils with nitrogen. There is considerable commercial interest in breeding and growing fenugreek cultivars high in sapogenins. Extract of fenugreek is obtained by alcoholic extraction. For culinary purposes, seeds are ground and used in curries. Young seedlings and other portions of fresh plant material are eaten as vegetables.