We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Chrysanthemum indicum - (L.)Des Moul.

Common Name Chrysanthemum
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Found wild in most habitats[147]. Grasslands on mountain slopes, thickets, wet places by rivers, fields, roadsides, saline places by seashores, under shrubs 100 - 2900 m. Nearly throughout China[266].
Range E. Asia - Eastern China, Central and Southern Japan.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Chrysanthemum indicum Chrysanthemum


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:BotBln
Chrysanthemum indicum Chrysanthemum
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:BotBln

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Chrysanthemum indicum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from August to October. 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. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Chrysanthemum indicum. L.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

The flower heads are pickled in vinegar[46, 61, 177, 183]. Young leaves - cooked[105, 177, 183]. An aromatic tea is made from the leaves[183]. Seed[183]. No more details are given but it is very small and would be rather fiddly to use.

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.


The whole plant is antiphlogistic, blood tonic, depurative, febrifuge and vulnerary[147, 174, 178]. The plant is used in China to treat eye ailments[218]. In conjunction with black pepper it is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[240]. The leaves are depurative[240]. They are used in China in the treatment of migraine[240]. The flowers are aperient, bitter, hypotensive, stomachic and vasodilator[176, 240]. They contain the glycoside chrysanthemin that yields glucose and cyanidin on hydrolysis, together with stachydrine and an essential oil[283]. They have an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus, E. coli, streptococcus, C. diphtheriae, Bacillus dysenteriae[176]. The flowers are used in the treatment of furuncle, scrofula, deep-rooted boils, inflammation of the throat, eyes and cervix, eczema, itchiness of the skin and hypertension[176]. They have a rejuvenating effect when used over a long period of time[283]. An essential oil obtained from the plant contains chrysanthenone, this is active on the brain centre affected by Parkinson's disease[240].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

The seed contains about 16% of a semi-drying oil, but no information is given as to its uses[240, 283]. The seed is rather small, commercial extraction is probably not viable[K].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most well-drained fertile soils in a sunny position[1, 200]. Plants tolerate temperatures down to about -10°c and should succeed outdoors in most parts of Britain[260]. This species is closely related to D. x grandiflorum (the cultivated chrysanthemum) according to one report[58] whilst another says that it is a parent of the cultivated chrysanthemum[1]. It has been proposed (1999) to restore this species to Chrysanthemum as C. indicum L. since the plant is so widely known under this name. When bruised, the foliage has a pungent refreshing fragrance that is somewhat lemon-like and reminiscent of chamomile[245].

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,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring to early summer in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed[200]. It usually germinates in 10 - 18 days at 15°c but if it does not germinate within 4 weeks then try chilling the seed for 3 weeks in the salad compartment of a fridge[164]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Anhui Sheng, Fujian Sheng, Guangdong Sheng, Guizhou Sheng, Hebei Sheng, Heilongjiang Sheng, Henan Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Hunan Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng, Jiangxi Sheng, Shandong Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Yunnan Sheng), Japan (Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku), Korea, South, Korea, North, Taiwan

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
Artemisia vulgarisMugwort, Common wormwood, Felon Herb, Chrysanthemum Weed, Wild WormwoodPerennial1.2 3-9 FLMHSNDM231
Chrysanthemum carinatumTricolor Chrysanthemum, Painted Daisy, Summer ChrysanthemumAnnual0.6 0-0 FLMHSNM20 
Chrysanthemum coronariumChop-Suey GreensAnnual1.2 0-0  LMHSNM322
Chrysanthemum coronarium spatiosumChop-Suey GreensAnnual1.2 0-0  LMHSNM322
Chrysanthemum marshallii Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM003
Chrysanthemum segetumCorn MarigoldAnnual0.5 -  LMHSNM10 
Dendranthema indicumChrysanthemumPerennial0.6 5-9  LMHNM231
Dendranthema x grandiflorumChrysanthemum, Cut Mum, Garden Mum, Pot Mum, Florist's ChrysanthemumPerennial1.5 5-10 MLMHNM232
Leucanthemum maximumShasta Daisy, Max chrysanthemumPerennial0.8 5-9  LMHNM00 

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

(L.)Des Moul.

Botanical References

58200266

Links / References

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

Readers comment

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 : Chrysanthemum indicum  
© 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.