Common Name:

General Information

Cirsium sieboldii is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a stout rootstock with well-developed rhizomes; it forms a basal cluster of leaves and a flowering stem that can grow around 40 - 120cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - central and southern Japan (Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu).

Habitat

Wet places in lowland by rivers and streams[]. In moors and along streams in sunny grasslands; at elevations from 5 - 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.90 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera, Beetles, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Cirsium species are generally easily grown plants, succeeding in any ordinary garden soil in a sunny position[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[, ]. The root is stout with well developed rhizomes[]. It is likely to be rich in inulin, a starch that cannot be digested by humans. This starch thus passes straight through the digestive system and, in some people, ferments to produce flatulence[].

Young plant - cooked[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The seed of all species of thistles yields a good oil by expression[]. No details of potential yields etc are given[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring or autumn in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 8 weeks at 20°c[].
Division in spring or autumn.