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Inula britannica chinensis - (Rupr.)Regel.

Common Name Xuan Fu Hua
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Wet places in lowlands, especially by rivers, all over Japan[58].
Range E. Asia - China and Japan.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Inula britannica chinensis Xuan Fu Hua


Inula britannica chinensis Xuan Fu Hua

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Inula britannica chinensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. 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

Plant Habitats

 Bog Garden; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

Leaves - cooked[179]. An emergency food, it is only used when better foods are not available[177].

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.
Alterative  Carminative  Cholagogue  Deobstruent  Expectorant  Laxative  Nervine  Stomachic  
Tonic  Vulnerary

Xuan Fu Hua is used in Chinese herbalism as a mildly warming expectorant remedy and it is especially suitable where phlegm has accumulated in the chest[254]. It has been used as an adulterant of arnica (Arnica montana)[4]. The flowers are more commonly used, but the leaves are also used, generally for less serious conditions[254]. The leaf is discutient and vulnerary[218]. The flowers are alterative, antibacterial, carminative, cholagogue, deobstruent, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, nervine, stomachic, tonic and vulnerary[147, 176, 178, 218, 279]. They are used internally in the treatment of bronchial complaints with profuse phlegm, nausea and vomiting, hiccups and flatulence[176, 238]. The flowers have an antibacterial action, but this can be destroyed by proteins in the body[176]. The plant is harvested when in flower and can be dried for later use[254]. The root is discutient, resolvent and vulnerary[218]. The plant has been mentioned as a possible treatment for cancer of the oesophagus[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in a sunny position in any moderately fertile well-drained soil[200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[238]. This sub-species is the form that is most used medicinally, it is cultivated as a medicinal plant in China[178].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed, it is worthwhile trying a sowing in situ in the spring or the autumn. Division in spring or autumn[111].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

Coming Soon

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
Inula britannicaXuan Fu Hua, British yellowheadPerennial0.8 6-9  LMHNMWe03 
Inula cappaSheep's EarShrub1.8 -  LMHSNM02 
Inula conyzaPloughman's SpikenardBiennial/Perennial1.2 5-9  LMHNM012
Inula crithmoidesGolden SamphirePerennial1.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Inula heleniumElecampane, Elecampane inulaPerennial1.5 4-8  LMHSNM332
Inula racemosa Perennial2.0 6-9  LMHNM02 
Inula royleana Perennial0.6 5-9  LMHNM011

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.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Rupr.)Regel.

Botanical References

58

Links / References

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Subject : Inula britannica chinensis  
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