Common Name:

General Information

Rhodiola wallichiana is a perennial plant growing from a thickened, sometimes stoloniferous rootstock; it produces a cluster of stems around 17 - 40cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China, northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar

Habitat

Moist places, usually under shrubs and trees; at elevations from 3,300 - 4,200 metres[]. Forests, rocks on slopes; at elevations from 2,500 - 3,800 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.25 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera, Insects

Cultivation Details

Rhodiola wallichiana is a moderately cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to around -20°c when dormant[].
Prefers a fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
All members of this genus are said to have edible leaves, though those species, such as this one, that have yellow flowers can cause stomach upsets if they are eaten in quantity[, , ].

Edible Uses

The leaves are probably edible[, ].

Medicinal

The plant is emollient, resolvent and vulnerary[]. The juice of the plant is applied to burns and wounds[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - surface sow spring in well-drained soil in a sunny position in a greenhouse. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in early summer of the following year.
Division in spring or early summer. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.