Practical
Plants

Streptopus streptopoides

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Young leaves and shoots - raw or cooked. A cucumber flavour[2]. Fruit - raw or cooked. A watermelon flavour[2].

Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea. North-western N. America.
Habitat
Dense coniferous mid-montane woods[4]. Moist woods, river banks and alder thickets[2].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the summer[3]. Sow stored seed in a cold frame as soon as it is received. The seed, especially if it has been stored, can be very slow to germinate, sometimes taking 18 months or more. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a shady part of the greenhouse or cold frame. It will normally take 2 or more growing seasons before the roots are large enough to plant out - this is best done when the plant is dormant in the autumn. Division as the plant comes into growth in early spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame for their first year, planting them out in the following spring.

Cultivation

Requires a cool leafy soil in shade or partial shade[3]. Thrives in a moist light soil containing organic matter[1]. Hardy to at least -20°c.

References

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

    ↩

  2. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

  4. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩

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