Agastache rugosa Pinyin: tu huo xiang Part used: Leaf and flower
Agastache rugosa, (Fisch. & Mayer) Common name: Korean Mint Pinyin: tu huo xiang Part used: Leaf and flower Family: Lamiaceae Dry Herb Plant Description This is a long-lived deciduous perennial that is winter hardy down to at least to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Purple-blue flowers are borne atop 5’ tall anise-scented plants in mid summer. Green cordate leaves are lightly serrate and show purple hues in response to cooler temperatures. Korean mint does not produce runners. This plant is a close relative of Anise hyssop. Propagation Grow by sowing seed in spring or fall. Seed germination occurs from 6-14 days. If fall sown in greenhouse then higher herb production can be expected the following summer; this is especially helpful if the crop is being treated as if it were an annual. Field Production Set out starts at least 10 weeks old in spring. Agastache is easy to grow and flexible in its cultural requirements, tolerating wet winters and heavy soils. It prefers full sun and a moderate amount of summer water and an average loam. Plant 2’ on center. Weed to avoid resource competition. Pest Gophers occasionally predate, deer do not browse. Insect pests include Diabrotica, the cucumber beetle, and mites can cause light leaf damage. Harvest Harvest the leaves, young flowers and stems in June through August of the first and subsequent seasons when the plants are growing vigorously, and the weather is warm or hot. The volatile oils will not be present in as high amounts if harvested in the cooler months. Two good harvests are possible per season. A gas hedge trimmer makes quick work cutting for a hang to dry method. When dry, gently roll on a 4” mesh screen to riddle the leaves and flowers off the stems. If fresh herbs are desired hand harvest is preferable; remove the terminal 5” and other leaves individually. They wilt easily so harvest early in the day and cool down soon after picking. Harvesting early will also avoid bee activity. The best quality consists of whole leaves and young flowers. Notes Marketing to western tea companies diversify sales; it makes a fragrant and pleasant tea. Korean mint is attractive enough to be a worthy addition to the ornamental border. Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm www.chinesemedicinalherbfarm.com © Peggy Schafer 2008 Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. Common name: Hairy Agrimony Pinyin: xiān hè cǎo 仙 鶴草 Part used: Whole plant Family: Rosaceae Plant Description A hirsute herbaceous perennial, short, erect with a fibrous root system. Branches can get up to three feet in length; leaves are alternately positioned on the stem, oblong, toothed, and irregular. Small, bright yellow flowers form small acorn-shaped prickly burs in the fall. This plant is cold-hardy and tolerates poor soils. (2) Hardiness Prefers temperate climates, USDA zones 4-5. Propagation Easily propagated from seeds, planted directly or in trays in spring. Field Production Direct seed or transplant young plants to prepared seedbed, thin to 1-foot spacing, sandy to sandy-loam soils preferred. Allow to establish first season, harvesting can begin once fully established. Pests None observed. Harvest Harvest whole plant, dehydrate. (1) Notes Winter buds are conical, white, and used medicinally also in powder form. References 1) Medicinal Plants in China, http://www.wpro.who.int/internet/files/pub/69/toc.pd 2) Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea, http://www.wpro.who.int/internet/files/pub/97/15.pdf ©Copyright NMSU and Western Center RME, WSU Allium tuberosum/ramosum Common name: Garlic chives Pinyin: jiu cai zi 韭菜 Part used: Leaves Family: Alliaceae Plant Description A fast-growing perennial herb with erect, pungent, flat onion-like leaves growing 1-2 feet from small, tough, bulbs. Umbels of white flowers bloom profusely beginning late summer. Prefers cool weather, full sun, moderately loamy sand soil. Garlic chives tolerate drought well. Hardiness USDA Zones 4-8. (1) Propagation Direct-seed early spring or transplant from bulbs or divided rhizomes into prepared seedbed. Field Production Easy to grow, plant in rows or beds under drip irrigation to minimize invasiveness and spread. Side dress established plants with compost in early spring to maintain production and plant vigor. Properly maintained stands can remain productive indefinitely. Do not plant near ordinary chives or other similar species as identification can become confusing. Pests Aphids and powdery mildew have been reported as problems under some conditions. Harvest Leaves are harvested anytime up to flowering time, washed, diced and dried or used fresh like ordinary chives. Invasiveness Garlic chives produce seeds prolifically and also spread by rhizomes. It has escaped cultivation in parts of Europe and the US, and has become weedy in places. Removing flowers before going to seed will minimize invasiveness. Trim rows or beds in early spring to remove unwanted creeping rhizomes. Notes The flowers can also be used for ornamental purposes in fresh or dried arrangements. References 1) Floridata, http://www.floridata.com/ref/A/alli_tub.cfm ©Copyright NMSU and Western Center RME, WSU Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Bge. Common name: None Pinyin: zhi mu Part used: Rhizome Family: Liliaceae Plant Description Rare in cultivation this herbaceous plant, growing to 1.5’ tall, looks a lot like grass. Small white vaseshaped flowers are arranged in clusters on racemes that rise above foliage, making the total height of this perennial 4’ tall. Lateral growing rhizomes are orange and are arranged in segments of three, rather like the center of the Mercedes Benz logo. Occurring as far north as Mongolia, Anemarrhena is considered cold hardy. This is not a drought tolerant plant. Propagation Black faceted seeds form in chambered tan capsules that should be separated if seed was not received as such. Sow these somewhat fragile seed in the spring or fall. Due to their slow growth habit they should be grown in the nursery for a year or more before planting out. Do not allow to dry out. At the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm we have found equally good germination (90%) by spring sowing seed in a heated greenhouse or outdoors in the fall in wooden flats; emergence takes place in 1-2 weeks. Constanttemperature stored seed remains viable for more than 4 years. Field Production This plant prefers full sun or part shade in hot regions. Plant into a clean cultivated bed evenly spaced, 1’ on center and 2’ between rows. Keep weeded, especially when young to avoid confusion with grassy weeds. Anemarrhena has moderate irrigate needs. Average to low soil fertility is recommended. Pest None. Harvest Roots are dug while dormant in the fall or winter after 3 years or more of growth. Remove the thickened roots close to the rhizome, and remove any persistent foliage to facilitate washing. A power washer is helpful. Slice lengthwise and dry. Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm www.chinesemedicinalherbfarm.com © Peggy Schafer 2008 Angelica dahurica (Fisch. ex Hoffm.) Benth. & Hooker Common name: Daurian angelica Pinyin name: bai zhi Part used: root Family: Apiaceae www.coilingdragon.com Plant Description This beautiful but short-lived perennial responds to cool, moist fertile soil at the forest edge, valley grasslands or stream banks. Dauria is near the Mongolian-Siberian border, thus the plant is hardy to Zone 4. First-year plants remain in a basal clump about 30 inches high, fuller in richer soil, with complex divided leaves 10-20 inches long, and reddish-purple coloration at the base of the clump. In the second or third year, the plant sends up a sturdy, hollow, one-inch diameter stalk to 8 feet. White flowers are borne on umbels up to 12 inches in diameter in July-September. Seeds follow, turning from greenish white to medium brown and papery as they ripen. Propagation Dry, flat seeds with dorsal and lateral ribs will wind-disperse widely, with a few germinating years later in a moist setting. (The plant has naturalized in our garden.) Dormancy occurs less than six months after seed harvest, and dry-stored seeds are all dead after one year. Light is required for germination. Surface sow fresh seed on moist medium, 15-21 days at 70°F. Field Production Seedlings may be kept in pots for more than one season before setting out. Rich soil and moisture will increase size in all parts. Plant at a 24-inch radius in partial shade. Water evenly for best results, although this species is tough and can endure neglect and short periods of drought. Yield estimated at 5 pounds dry weight per 100 square feet. Pests None noted. Harvest Cylindrical, pale brown roots 1-2 inches thick and 4-7 inches long must be harvested before the stalk emerges. The roots have a longitudinal grain, a white interior and a pleasant odor resembling that of wild Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota). Remove leaves, trim side roots, make thin even longitudinal or oblique slices of main root, dry thoroughly. Notes Angelica formosana H. de Boissieu is synonymous with A. dahurica. Angelica taiwaniana S.S. Ying is a substitute for bai zhi and has a slightly different leaf texture. © 2009 High Falls Gardens www.highfallsgardens.net Angelica sinensis, (Oliv.) Diels Alternate species: A. acutiloba (Siebold &Zucc) Kitag A. polymorpha var. sinensis (Oliv.) Common name: Chinese Angelica Pinyin: dang gui Part used: Root Family: Apiaceae Angelica sinensis Dry Dang Gui in a Bozhou herb market. Plant Description A primary herb in the materia medica and much in demand; effort should be made to grow this crop. Perennial and herbaceous, Dang Gui grows up to 4’ tall with the typical white flowering umbel and whitish roots. The leaves and plants are more delicate than the western Angelica archangelica, the Asian A. dahurica, and A. pubescens. The foliage is divided into 3 leaflets and is green with purple overtones. Not surprisingly the whole plant smells like celery, which is in the same family. Propagation Angelica sinensis can be a challenging herb to grow. “The plants like a cool, moist environment with deep, rich, sandy soil, high in organic matter…It does best in very high and cold conditions in a shaded, moist location”. 1 Many varieties of seed in the apiaceae family are considered to be short-lived; having said this the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm had close to 100% germination several times with February sown seed that was just over 2 years old. Seed should be kept moist. Field Production Plant Angelica 1’ apart in part shade. Low vigor is a common problem. The Flora of China states “Wild or cultivated in forests, shrubby thickets; 2500-3000 meters” 2 The Chinese provinces where Dang Gui is native are predominantly covered with evergreen forests. 3 Pest None noted. Harvest Foster notes that Dang Gui is harvested after 2 or 3 years of growth in the fall, and notes further that one year plants are not harvested as they yield inferior medicine. 1 1 Steven Foster and Yue Chongxi, Herbal Emissaries: Bringing Chinese Herbs to the West. (Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 1992), 70-71. 2 Flora of China, http://wwwefloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=2000015389 Accessed September 9, 2008. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA 3 Flora of China, http://wwwefloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=2000015389 Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm www.chinesemedicinalherbfarm.com © Peggy Schafer 2008 Arctium lappa Common name: Burdock, Gobo Pinyin: niu pang zi 牛蒡子 Part used: root and burr Family: Asteraceae Plant Description Gobo is a stout, erect biennial, native to Eurasia, usually to 6 feet. It is a common weed on roadsides and waste places. The leaves are large, up to 16" at the base, becoming smaller toward the top, oval to heart-shaped, smooth above with whitish down underneath, resembling rhubarb. Globular flowers (in 2nd year) appear in clusters at top of stalk with stiff hooks which cling to anything coming in contact. Bracts enclose purple florets, then later, large achenes with a short pappus of stiff hairs on each seed. The root is a long tap root up to 3 feet, growing straight down into the soil, being fleshy and gray brown on the outside, whitish on the inside. (1) Hardiness & Propagation USDA Zones 4-10. Several cultivars have been developed, primarily in Japan. Obtain these improved varieties if possible. Gobo is easily grown direct-seeded in late summer or spring. Field Production Gobo roots are most easily grown in a sandy loam for ease of harvest and cleaning. For root production, Gobo can be treated as an annual crop. Thin seedlings to 12”-18” spacing, side dress with compost periodically. For seed production, two seasons are required. Allow the plant to overwinter and bolt the following summer. Harvest For root production, harvest roots by hand or using a root grubber implement in the fall of the first growing season after dormancy. Wash, scrub, and clean off any small roots, leaving the main tap root. Gobo root can be sold fresh or sliced or chopped, dried, and packaged. For seed production, cut or remove fully mature, dried seed stalks and burrs after the second season of growth. Thresh the burrs to release the seeds, then screen and winnow to separate seeds from burrs and chaff. Store in an air-tight container or freezer to prevent insect damage. Pests Grasshoppers and weevils can be serious pests of Gobo roots. Grasshoppers can defoliate first year plants, reducing plant vigor and root size and yield. Cover plants with remay or light netting to deter grasshopper feeding. Weevils can decimate the seed crop, burrowing into the ripe seedheads and feeding on the seeds. Cover ripe seedheads with remay, burlap or coarse mesh cloth to deter feeding. Invasiveness Control or prevent seed production when cultivating under field conditions to avoid seed escape and spread to neighboring farms and fields. If grown for the root, destroy all unwanted plants after harvest. Composting will not kill the seeds, incineration of unwanted burrs and plant material is recommended. References (1) Earthnotes Herb Library, 2009. http://earthnotes.tripod.com/burdock_h.htm ©Copyright NMSU and Western Center RME, WSU Artemisia annua Common name: Sweet Annie Pinyin: qīng hāo Part used: plant tops Family: Asteraceae ©herbpure.com Plant Description A fast-growing herbaceous annual up to six feet in height, with fern-like leaves. It is a short day plant with a critical photoperiod of 13.5 hr. (2) The plant is usually single-stemmed with alternate branches and alternate, deeply dissected, aromatic leaves ranging from one to two inches in length. Tiny yellow nodding flowers are in loose panicles. (2) Hardiness USDA Zones 4-8. This species is temperate zone in origin but has adapted widely except in the tropics. (1) Propagation The seed can be sown in a coldframe or greenhouse and transplanted to the field in late spring. Alternatively, the seed can be sown directly in the field in late spring. (3) Field Production An easily grown plant, succeeding in a well-drained slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a sunny position. Plants are longer lived, hardier and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil. Qing Hao is a determinate short-day plant. In temperate climates plants flower in early September with mature seeds produced in October. Most collections of artemisia derive from natural stands with highly variable artemisinin content. Selections from Chinese origin are preferred due to higher artemisinin concentrations. (2) Pests The species is hardy and virtually pest-free. (3) Harvest Approximately one hundred days to leaf harvest, one hundred sixty days to seed (4). Invasiveness This species is known to become weedy and invasive. It has escaped from cultivation and has naturalized in much of the world. (1) Notes Skin contact with the plant can cause dermatitis or other allergic reactions in some people. The pollen is extremely allergenic. (3) References 1) USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2009. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ARAN3 2) Purdue University New Crop Proceedings. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/V3578.html 3) Plants for a Future database, 2009. http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Artemisia+annua 4) Horizon Herbs, 2009. http://www.horizonherbs.com/group.asp?grp=43&pgNUM=2 ©Copyright NMSU and Western Center RME, WSU Artemisia vulgaris Common name: mugwort Pinyin: ai ye 艾葉 Part used: leaves and flowers Family: Asteraceae Plant Description Mugwort is a tall herbaceous perennial growing as high as six feet. Leaves are finely divided, arranged alternately on stems that can become woody late in the season. Flowers bloom from July to September, are compound, very small, and inconspicuous. The inflorescence is racemose, terminally located on each stem. Mugwort is very drought tolerant. Hardiness USDA Zones 4-8. Propagation Mugwort is a prolific seed producer and is readily propagated from direct seeding in late summer, early fall, or spring. Thin plants as they grow to establishment. No special care is needed in germination. Field Production In areas where mugwort has become naturalized, formal cultivation is not recommended. Mature plants can reach 6-8 feet in diameter, so thin plants in established areas to at least that distance. Mugwort prefers full sun, tolerates poor soils very well. Mugwort dies back to the ground each year, prune back old woody growth to ground level to stimulate re-growth and to shape and contain the plant size. Keep from going to seed. Harvest Flower buds and leaves can both be used. For leaves, harvest branches before flowering, strip off leaves by hand, spread evenly on mesh trays or on drying racks and air-dry at room temperature with adequate ventilation for several days, turning daily. The flowers can be harvested when still in bud stage or just opening, then cleaned and gathered or rolled into a “fluff” for a more valuable form of moxa. Invasiveness Mugwort is highly invasive due to its prolific seed production and competitiveness. It has already become an established invasive species in many parts of the US. To prevent and minimize invasiveness, harvest or remove all flowers before they go to seed. Prune back all branches periodically after harvest to prevent re-flowering later in the season. Hoe out any seedlings from around the main plants. Notes Moxa is the product made from mugwort, used in moxibustion. It is very commonly used in Oriental medicine, but is also very inexpensive, making it difficult to grow and harvest profitably. ©Copyright NMSU and Western Center RME, WSU Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. Common name: asparagus tuber Pinyin name: tian men dong Part used: tuber Family: Liliaceae Plant Description This herbaceous, dioecious perennial with slightly woody, climbing stems 3-6 feet in length resembles the houseplant A. sprengeri but is hardy to Zone 5. The stems bear short needle-like side stems with the form and function of leaves (cladodes), plus short spines. Tiny bell-shaped greenish flowers are borne in May or June, followed by quarter-inch round green berries in September. The berry becomes translucent when ripe, revealing one or two round black seeds within and resembling a fish eye. Propagation Berries will stay moist for months in cool storage. Remove seeds from pulp. Plant in 72-cell trays, keep evenly moist. A few fresh seeds will germinate immediately, but most come up after 15 months at varying temperatures 70-40ºF. Seedlings may be transplanted into larger pots and held for a season or more. Propagation from tubers, in our experience to date, has been unsuccessful. Field Production Plant sturdy seedlings in full sun, average well-drained soil, at an 18-inch radius. Benefits from mulching but seems little affected by drought. Train emerging stems to 4-foot plant stakes to encourage flowering and fruiting. More stems emerge from the crown each year as the plant ages; the number of tubers increases proportionally. Yield on 3-4 year plants is estimated at 3 pounds dry weight per 100 square feet. Pests None noted. Harvest After tops have died back in autumn, clip to stubs. Dig beside the crown and take only a few tubers, allowing the plant to regenerate. The cylindrical or spindle-shaped, yellow-brown tubers are approximately one to two inches long and dry to half that length. They remain somewhat sticky and shiny or translucent, as befits their Yin-nourishing function. Cut into half-inch pieces for decoction. Notes The tubers are sometimes used fresh, also are juiced. © 2009 High Falls Gardens www.highfallsgardens.net Aster tataricus Common name: Tatarian aster Pinyin: zi wan Part used: root Family: Asteraceae Plant Description This stout perennial grows over five feet tall with lower leaves that are large, coarse and lanceolate with upper leaves much smaller. In late summer or early fall light purple ray flowers appear in several clusters. Hardiness USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8. Propagation Start indoors or directly outdoors in early spring, barely covering the seeds. Germination in flats is around 2 ½ weeks. Once parent plants are established, Aster tataricus is easily propagated by root division from mature plants. Field Production Soil should be of average fertility and well draining. Set out or thin plants on 2-foot centers. Mulch to promote water retention. Tatarian aster is not drought tolerant and needs regular irrigation for greatest productivity. Pests Tatarian aster is susceptible to aster yellows virus. Harvest Roots are harvested in the fall after two or more years of growth. Wash the roots with a power washer and trim off the rootlets and air dry. Dry the main roots under low heat. “Good quality is long and reddish purple” (Bensky et al, 2004). Invasiveness Though not invasive this aster should not be allowed to cross with native asters. References Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, compiled and translated by Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble. Fourth edition, Eastland Press, Inc., 2004. ©Copyright NMSU and Western Center RME, WSU Astragalus membranaceus, (Fisch.) Bge. Common name: Astragalus, Milk vetch Pinyin: Huang Qi Part used: root Family: Fabaceae Plant description Resembling other members of the pea family, Astragalus grows to 3’ tall with somewhat rambling stems. The pinnately compound leaves are bluish – green in color. Astragalus is a deciduous perennial. Blossoms form out of leaf axils and develop into racemes with yellow pea-like flowers, maturing into 1” long seed pods. Naturally occurring as far north as Mongolia 1 , Astragalus can generally be considered hardy. Propagation Seeds are sown in the spring or fall, but because they have a hard seed coat it is common practice to scarify by rubbing with sandpaper or nicking with a sharp knife, nail clippers etc. Soaking the seed overnight is another method to aid germination. Here at the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm we have found good germination without employing scarification methods. Germination takes place from 6-20 days with bottom heat. It is also common to use an innoculant. One used for Vetch cover crops is advised. Plants are drought tolerant in pots and field. Nursery media should be extra well-draining. Do not over water. Over watering is the most frequent reason for Astragalus to die. Field Production Grow milk vetch in a sunny location in very well drained, sandy, soil. Fertilizers and compost are not recommended. Plant or sow 1’ apart. Direct seeding has brought good results. Seed emergence is variable and takes place from 1-4 weeks. Seedling transplants can be field planted from 14 weeks to 1 year if the pots/cultivation boxes are deep. Pest Gophers are a big predator, deer to a much lesser extent. Harvest Roots are dug while dormant in the fall after 4 years growth. The whitish yellow roots grow 3-4’ straight down making hand harvesting the norm as machine harvest would miss much of the root. Check the roots for pithiness or any potential rot as it may not be initially obvious. Wash thoroughly and dry by cutting the roots lengthwise. 1 Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica (Eastland Press, 1993), p. 319. Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm www.chinesemedicinalherbfarm.com © Peggy Schafer 2008 Astragalus sinicus L. Common name: Chinese milk vetch Pinyin: geng ge hua 紫雲英 Part used: leaves, roots Family: Fabaceae Plant Description Chinese milk vetch is an herbaceous perennial with pinnate leaves and pink-purple flowers, usually grown as a winter annual; it is a native of China and introduced to Japan (1) and closely resembles Huang Qi, Astragalus membranceous. Growers will need to be careful not to plant them in succession or near each other to avoid misidentification. Hardiness & Propagation USDA Zones 4-10. Chinese milkvetch should be inoculated with Rhizobium prior to planting in spring for greatest yields. As a forage crop, it can be broadcast or solid-seeded; as a root crop, seed can be sown in rows and thinned to one-foot spacing for larger root diameter and yield. Field Production Chinese milkvetch is slow to emerge and establish, weeds will need to be carefully controlled early on. Cultivation in rows is recommended for ease of weed control. Pests Grasshoppers have been observed to feed heavily on Chinese milkvetch, but the plant usually recovers in the fall. It is also susceptible to a number of virus diseases, including alfalfa mosaic and mild vetch dwarf virus. Pure virus-free seed and isolation are the best ways to prevent these diseases. Harvest A well-grown crop is said to yield fifteen tons per acre of green material at the early flowering stage.(1)Roots can be hand dug or harvested with a root grubber, yields are comparable to those for Huang Qi, Astragalus membranaceous. Invasiveness Chinese milk vetch is a hard-seeded legume, and may persist in fields in following years. Crop rotations and deep tillage will easily control volunteer plants. Do not let volunteer plants go to seed. Notes Chinese milk vetch is a multi-purpose crop, serving as a forage, green manure, vegetable or medicinal crop. It is also useful in re-seeding eroded or waste places when inoculated with legume-fixing Rhizobium bacteria. Organic growers will need to be aware that certain modern varieties have been genetically engineered for higher tryptophan production. References 1) FAO Plant Database, 2009. http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/DATA/Pf000465.HTM ©Copyright NMSU and Western Center RME, WSU Atractylodes macrocephala, Koidz. Common name: Chinese Thistle Daisy Pinyin: Bai Zhu Part used: root Family: Asteraceae Plant description A prickly, hot pink flowering, uncommon herbaceous perennial, it resembles a thistle – but it is not. Grows 1-2’ tall in Northern California. Highly variable in form, from low growing compact plants to taller and looser, and from very prickly to less so. This plant grows in central eastern China and should be hardy to about 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit. To see a detailed distribution map on the internet go to Tropicos Flora of China Checklist Project at http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/FOC/projsfoc.html. Propagation Easy to germinate in the spring or fall with up to 90% germination rate. On-going germination from 1430 days. Do not over water. Field production Transplant out 8-12 week seedlings in spring on 8” to 1’ centers in the full sun. Keep on the drier side; roots have a tendency to rot. Seed is slow to mature. Pests None. Harvest This rarely grown but important medicinal is probably grown at least two or three years, before harvesting the root while the plant is dormant. Traditionally the root is sliced. Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm www.chinesemedicinalherbfarm.com © Peggy Schafer 2008
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