We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Stachys affinis - Bunge.

Common Name Chinese Artichoke, Artichoke betony
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Wet and submersed areas; 0-3200 m. Gansu, Hebei, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Xinjiang[266]
Range E. Asia - China, Japan.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Stachys affinis Chinese Artichoke, Artichoke betony


biolib.de
Stachys affinis Chinese Artichoke, Artichoke betony
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Jonathaneo

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Stachys affinis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf from May to November, in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained 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 soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

S. sieboldii. S. tuberifera.

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Root
Edible Uses:

Tubers - raw or cooked[1, 2, 4, 16, 33]. Quite a pleasant mild flavour and easily digested[46], but fairly small and fiddly[K], they are about 5 - 8cm long and 2cm wide[200, 206]. A nutty artichoke-like flavour[183], 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[200] and are said to lose their flavour if they are peeled[183]. It is best to harvest them as required[206]. Yields are about 1kg per square metre[200]. Leaves - cooked. A famine food, they are only used when all else fails[179].

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.
Anodyne

The dried and powdered root is anodyne[218]. The entire plant has been used in the treatment of colds and pneumonia[266].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a well-drained soil in a sunny position[16]. Thrives in an ordinary garden soil[1], preferring one that is not too heavy[16, 33]. It grows best in a soil that has been well fed and does not dry out in the growing season[16]. Plants seem to withstand even water-logged conditions in the winter[206]. The Chinese artichoke is occasionally cultivated for its edible tubers, they are planted out in March and harvested from October onwards[1, 58, 61]. 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[200]. 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[206]. The tubers begin to sprout at temperatures above about 5°c[206]. Plants take 5 - 7 months to develop their tubers[206]. Plants rarely flower in Britain[1]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons [1-2]. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

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].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

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

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.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Chimonobambusa pachystachysThorny BambooBamboo5.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Dichrostachys cinereaMarabou Thorn, Sickle BushShrub8.0 8-12 MLMHSNM224
Lysimachia barystachysManchurian yellow loosestrifePerennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNM10 
Nardostachys grandifloraSpikenardPerennial0.3 -  LMHSNM133
Orostachys japonicaRock PineBiennial/Perennial0.1 -  LMSNM02 
Phyllostachys angustaStone BambooBamboo5.0 7-10 MLMHSNM302
Phyllostachys arcanaHalf-Black BambooBamboo6.0 7-10  LMHSNM302
Phyllostachys aureaGolden Bamboo, Fishpole BambooBamboo6.0 6-11 FLMHSM503
Phyllostachys aureosulcataYellow-Groove BambooBamboo6.0 5-11  LMHSNM402
Phyllostachys bambusoidesMadake, Japanese timber bambooBamboo8.0 6-9  LMHSM413
Phyllostachys bissetii Bamboo5.0 4-8  LMHSNM002
Phyllostachys dulcisSweetshoot BambooBamboo7.0 7-10 FLMHSNM402
Phyllostachys edulisMoso-Chiku, Tortoise shell bambooBamboo8.0 6-10  LMHSM414
Phyllostachys flexuosaZig-Zag Bamboo, Drooping timber bambooBamboo6.0 5-9  LMHSM302
Phyllostachys glauca Bamboo5.0 0-0  LMHFSNM303
Phyllostachys iridescens Bamboo5.0 -  LMHFSNM302
Phyllostachys makinoiKei-Chiku, Makino bambooBamboo6.0 7-10  LMHSNM303
Phyllostachys meyeriMeyer BambooBamboo5.0 7-10 FLMHSNM003
Phyllostachys nidulariaBig-Node Bamboo, Broom bambooBamboo6.0 6-9  LMHSNM504
Phyllostachys nigraBlack Bamboo, Kuro-ChikuBamboo7.5 7-10 FLMHSM432
Phyllostachys nigra henonisHa-ChikuBamboo6.0 6-9  LMHSM432
Phyllostachys nigra punctataKurodakeBamboo6.0 6-9  LMHSM432
Phyllostachys nudaNude Sheath BambooBamboo5.0 7-10  LMHSNM402
Phyllostachys parvifolia Bamboo6.0 -  LMHSNM302
Phyllostachys praecoxViolet BambooBamboo6.0 6-10  LMHFSNM303
Phyllostachys propinqua Bamboo6.0 7-10  LMHFSNM302
Phyllostachys purpurata Bamboo0.0 -  LMHFSNM302
Phyllostachys rubromarginataReddish bambooBamboo8.0 7-10 FLMHSNM302
Phyllostachys sulphureaOugon-Kouchiku, Sulphur bambooBamboo6.0 6-9  LMHSNDM001
Phyllostachys sulphurea viridisKou-ChikuBamboo4.0 6-9  LMHSNDM403
12

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.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

Bunge.

Botanical References

200266

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Steve Dupey   Thu Dec 1 2005

Id rate the plant as somewhat frost tolerant rather than tender. Seems to need a longer growing season than I have.. yields are low but it grows easily. Invasive.. tubers are very cold tolerant. Small and fiddly yes but easy enough to clean. Id say the flavor is good but a bit too mild. Possibly production could be increased with better knowlege of fertization requirements.. perhaps I gave it too much nitrogen. Id like to experiment with some of the other wild Stachys and I wonder why some selection for tuber size doesnt seem to have occurred. Are their cultivars of this we are not aware of. French.. crosne, Japanese... chorogi ??

Ken Fern, Plants for a Future.   Mon Nov 6 2006

This is the normal growth patter of Stachys affinis, though plants usually grow taller - ours are usually 30 - 50cm tall. The reason plants seldom flower in Britain is because the summer is not normally hot enough to initiate flowering - I wonder if this will change if we continue to get hotter summers with global warming. Instead of flowering, the plants concentrate on root growth, send up lots of new growth from these roots and therefore producing a tight clump with lots of stems.

Abayomi   Mon Nov 6 2006

where can I get seeds?

Ken Fern, Plants for a Future   Wed Nov 22 2006

This plant is not normally propagated by seed. The usual method is to obtain the small tubers and plant these out in early spring. There are a number of nurseries that offer the tubers in Britain, visit the Plant Finder at http://www.rhs.org.uk/RHSPlantFinder/plantfinder.asp for details of these.

   Mon Nov 6 2006

This is the normal growth patter of Stachys affinis, though plants usually grow taller - ours are usually 30 - 50cm tall. The reason plants seldom flower in Britain is because the summer is not normally hot enough to initiate flowering - I wonder if this will change if we continue to get hotter summers with global warming. Instead of flowering, the plants concentrate on root growth, send up lots of new growth from these roots and therefore producing a tight clump with lots of stems.

Lauren Leach-Steffens   Fri Feb 29 2008

Oh, my gosh. I have been digging this out from around my mini-pond for YEARS. Invasive? You bet. Edible? I didn't know -- maybe this will give me something to do with this beastly plant.

Eleanor   Wed Apr 2 2008

Does anyone know of a Canadian nursery that ships stachys affinis? I can find only American and British ones, and am not sure that these tubers will be allowed past customs.

Nigel Murison   Sun Oct 12 2008

I grew these for the fist time this year and most if not all plants flowered,seeds seemed to be developing but didn't come to much in the end. As it seems to be found in wet places I will try growing these in watery places next year.

Nigel Murison   Sun Oct 12 2008

I forgot to add, that I grew these on the Rame Peninsula in East Cornwall.

Kristin Kaspersen   Wed Nov 5 2008

Grows like a weed in southern Norway. I received some tubers a couple of years ago, and this summer they flowered for the first time.

Lise Fauteux   Sun Feb 22 2009

You can buy some in Canada (Quebec) there

La société des plantes

jon   Thu Jan 21 2010

Jonathans mountain Cabin

WAYNE BURDESHAW   Fri Jan 22 2010

We have a plant that grows wild here in the state of Florida (U.S.A.)named STACHYS FLORIDANA.I have been eating the tubers/roots of this plant for many years ,BOTH RAW AND COOKED,and I have a patch that grows in my back yard about 10 feet square. In my opinion,Stachys AFFINIS and Stachys FLORIDANA are actually the EXACT SAME PLANT with 2 Latin names!Remember that both are considered to be "weeds" and keep them away from your other garden areas.Stachys Affinis,or CROSNES,or S.Floridana, sells by the pound for more than $40.00 in big cities with gourmet restaurants.

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Stachys affinis  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.