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Common Name: Chop-Suey Greens

General Information

Chrysanthemum coronarium spatiosum is an annual plant that can grow up to 1.20 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. Europe.

Habitat

Cultivated ground and waste places[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[], but it prefers a well-drained fertile soil in full sun[, ]. It will tolerate light shade in the summer[]. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.2 to 7.5.
Plants do not grow well at temperatures above 25°c, tending to become bitter in hot weather[]. Plants withstand light frosts[].
Chop suey greens are commonly cultivated as a vegetable in the Orient and are becoming better known in the West[]. There are many named varieties[]. It takes 4 - 5 weeks from sowing the seed to the first harvest when plants are grown on the cut and come again principle[].
Plants often self-sow when they are well-sited and the soil is disturbed by hoeing etc[].

Edible Uses

Young shoots and stems - raw or cooked[, , , , ]. Strongly aromatic[, ], they are used as a flavouring or as a vegetable[]. Cooked leaves become bitter if overcooked at a high temperature[]. Young leaves are excellent in salads[]. The leaves quickly wilt once they have been picked so it is best to harvest them as required[]. They contain about 1.85% protein, 0.43% fat, 2.57% carbohydrate, 0.98% ash[]. They are rich in vitamin B1, contain a moderate content of vitamin C and a little vitamin A[].
Flowers - raw[]. Blanched briefly and added to salads[]. The centre of the flower is bitter so only the petals are normally used[]. A fragrant pickle known as 'kikumi' is made from the petals in Japan[].

Medicinal

The leaves are expectorant and stomachic[]. In conjunction with black pepper it is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[].
The flowers are aromatic, bitter and stomachic[]. They are used as a substitute for camomile (Chamaemelum nobile)[].
The bark is purgative, it is used in the treatment of syphilis[].

Other Uses

Possibly a good companion plant, protecting neighbouring plants from caterpillars etc[Gardener's World, 28/04/89]. There is a report that secretions from the roots can be effective in controlling nematodes in the soil, but this has not been substantiated[].

Propagation

Seed - surface-sow in spring to early autumn in situ. The seed usually germinates within 10 - 18 days at 15°c[]. Successional sowings can be made at intervals of a few weeks in order to ensure a constant supply of young plants[]. Autumn sowings succeed in mild areas[]. An autumn sowing under cover will often supply leaves all winter[].