Common Name: Sha Shen

General Information

Adenophora stricta is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing one or more unbranched stems 40 - 80cm tall from a thickened rootstock[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is often grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - southern China, Korea. Cultivated and naturalised in Japan.

Habitat

Meadows, forest margins, scrub, open mountain slopes, forests, among grasses, in rock crevices; at elevations below 3,300 metres[]. Hillsides and hilly places in China[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus are usually reliably hardy at temperatures down to at least -15°c, perhaps even lower if the soil is well-drained[].
Prefers a light rich slightly alkaline soil that is not too dry, and a warm sunny position[, ].
Plants are intolerant of root disturbance[], though they are fast-growing and can become invasive when well-sited[].
The young growth is extremely attractive to slugs, they have been known to destroy even mature plants[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[, ]. When boiled in two changes of water, it is said to be excellent eating[].

Leaves - cooked[, , ].

Medicinal

The root is a stimulant herb that acts mainly on the respiratory system and the heart[]. It is antitussive and expectorant[] and is used internally to treat dry coughs, chronic bronchitis and tuberculosis[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[]. The seed can also be sown in spring. Surface sow 2 - 3 seeds per pot in the spring in order to avoid transplanting[]. We have found that if transplanted when very small seedlings grow away without difficulty[]. Germinates in 1 - 3 months at 10°c[]. Plant out into their permanent positions whilst young.
Basal cuttings in spring[, ].