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Common Name:

General Information

Clinopodium chinense is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.45 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan.

Habitat

Woods and thickets in hills and low mountains all over Japan[]. Sunny meadows from the lowlands to elevations of 1500 metres in Japan[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.45 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in almost any well-drained soil[].
A polymorphic species[].
Plants are best grown in a rock garden[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - cooked[, ].
A sweet and aromatic herb tea is made from the leaves[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks at 21°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse. Plant them out in the summer if they have made sufficient growth, otherwise plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.
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 summer or following spring.
Cuttings of soft wood in May or early summer.