Practical
Plants

Stachys affinis

Chinese Artichoke

a perennial member of the Stachys genus in the family Labiatae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Genus
Stachys
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.45 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Tubers - raw or cooked[1][5][11][2][10]. Quite a pleasant mild flavour and easily digested[12], but fairly small and fiddly[K], they are about 5 - 8cm long and 2cm wide[6][7]. A nutty artichoke-like flavour[4], it can be eaten raw on its own, be added to salads or be lightly cooked[K]. The tubers quickly discolour when exposed to the air[6] and are said to lose their flavour if they are peeled[4]. It is best to harvest them as required[7]. Yields are about 1kg per square metre[6]. Leaves - cooked. A famine food, they are only used when all else fails[3].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The dried and powdered root is anodyne[8]. The entire plant has been used in the treatment of colds and pneumonia[9].

Product or use
Anodyne

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat
Wet and submersed areas; 0-3200 m. Gansu, Hebei, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Xinjiang[9]
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. If sufficient growth has been made, it is possible to plant them out during the summer, otherwise grow them on in pots for their first summer, leaving the tubers in the pots to overwinter in a cold frame and then plant out in late spring when in active growth. Seed is rarely if ever produced on plants growing in Britain. Division. The tubers can be harvest and replanted at any time whilst they are dormant. They do start into growth fairly early in the year so it is better to have moved them by the end of March[K].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a well-drained soil in a sunny position[2]. Thrives in an ordinary garden soil[1], preferring one that is not too heavy[2][10]. It grows best in a soil that has been well fed and does not dry out in the growing season[2]. Plants seem to withstand even water-logged conditions in the winter[7]. The Chinese artichoke is occasionally cultivated for its edible tubers, they are planted out in March and harvested from October onwards[1][13][14]. Although top growth is killed back by frost, the tubers are very hardy and can be left in the ground over winter to be harvested as required[6]. It is virtually impossible to find all the tubers, there are always some left behind that will grow the following season[K]. Plants are very tolerant of high summer temperatures[7]. The tubers begin to sprout at temperatures above about 5°c[7]. Plants take 5 - 7 months to develop their tubers[7]. Plants rarely flower in Britain[1].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-050-0

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  5. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-4781-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  8. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  9. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩1↩2

  10. Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber 1960-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  11. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩

  12. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  13. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

  14. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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