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Persicaria odorata - (Lour.) Soják

Common Name Vietnamese coriander, Asian mint
Family Polygonaceae
USDA hardiness 9-11
Known Hazards None Known
Habitats Wet environments.
Range Southeast Asia - Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Wet Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Persicaria odorata Vietnamese coriander, Asian mint


Prenn wikimedia.org
Persicaria odorata Vietnamese coriander, Asian mint
Prenn wikimedia.org

 

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Summary

This name is unresolved, but some data suggest that it is synonymous with Polygonum odoratum Lour. Not to be confused with Solomon's Seal Polygonatum odoratum - (Mill.)Druce.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Persicaria odorata is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

This name is unresolved.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Oil  Shoots
Edible Uses: Oil

Young leaves are used raw or cooked as a flavouring [296 , 301 ]. The aroma is rather similar to coriander, with a hot, peppery but refreshing flavour [296 , 301 ]. Leaves have a coriander-like smell and a spicy, pungent, hot peppery flavour.[2-2]. A few leaves can be added to a mixed salad, or they can be cooked with rice, vegetables etc [301 ]. The flavour is destroyed by prolonged cooking [310 ]. A few young shoots, combined with water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) are often added when preparing cabbage preserved in brine (like sauerkraut) [310 ]. Older, more red, leaves are generally considered too peppery to be used [301 ]. Although relished by the Vietnamese, the flavour of the leaves is not universally admired, though it is liked by some people who do not appreciate the taste of coriander leaves [310 ]. An oil can be extracted from the plant and is called Kesom oil - used as a flavouring [1-4].

References   More on Edible Uses

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.
Abortifacient  Anaphrodisiac  Antiemetic  Antipyretic  Diuretic  Febrifuge  Stomachic

The leaves are used as a diuretic, stomachic, febrifuge and anti-aphrodisiac[310 , 785 ]. The fresh leaves appear to have abortifacient properties[310 ]. Juice prepared from the crushed leaves is taken as an antidote against poisonous snake bite[310 ]. Externally, the crushed leaves are applied against fever, vomiting, ringworm and phagedaena[310 , 785 ].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Oil

Bog, water plant. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) substitute where bolting is common. Attracts butterflies. Tolerate: Rabbit, Deer, Wet Soil.

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A short-lived herbaceous perennial plant often grown as an annual. Succeeds in tropical to warm temperate areas[46 ]. Light frost is probably tolerated[310 ]. Requires a moist soil, succeeding in shallow water[296 ]. Fertile soils with adequate soil moisture are essential for optimal production[310 ]. It grows best under partial shade, but full sunlight is tolerated if ample moisture is available[310 ]. The first harvest of the leaves can be taken when plants are nearly 2 months old; subsequent harvests are every 12 - 15 days in tropical areas[310 ]. Plants prefer boggy soils including ones with some standing water. Plants begin to struggle when temperatures dip below 45 degrees F. Pots can be brought indoors in fall for overwintering, but overwintering can sometimes be difficult because of the need to provide moist and humid growing conditions. Bloom in late summer, but bloom infrequently occurs in cool climates. [2-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed. The plant is easily propagated by stem cuttings with 4 - 6 internodes (8 - 10 cm long) taken from the top of mature stems[310 ]. These are planted obliquely 5 - 6 cm apart with a row spacing of 10 - 15 cm in raised beds of light, well-manured soil and are watered well[310 ]. Under warm and humid conditions cuttings start rooting after 3 - 5 days and growing after about a week[310 ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Rau ram or Vietnamese coriander, Vietnamese mint, Vietnamese cilantro, hot mint, laksa leaf, praew leaf.

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Asia, Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Hawaii, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, North America, Pacific, SE Asia, Singapore, Tasmania, Thailand, USA, Vietnam.

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.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Not Listed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Polygonum persicariaRed Leg, Spotted ladysthumbAnnual0.6 4-8  LMHSNM121

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.

 

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(Lour.) Soják

Botanical References

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.

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