Common name: Korean Mint Pinyin: tu huo xiang Part used: Leaf ...

Agastache rugosa, (Fisch. & Mayer)Common name: Korean MintPinyin: tu huo xiangPart used: Leaf and flowerFamily: LamiaceaeDry HerbPlant DescriptionThis is a long-lived deciduous perennial that is winter hardy down to at least to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.Purple-blue flowers are borne atop 5’ tall anise-scented plants in mid summer. Green cordate leaves arelightly serrate and show purple hues in response to cooler temperatures. Korean mint does not producerunners. This plant is a close relative of Anise hyssop.PropagationGrow by sowing seed in spring or fall. Seed germination occurs from 6-14 days. If fall sown ingreenhouse then higher herb production can be expected the following summer; this is especially helpfulif the crop is being treated as if it were an annual.Field ProductionSet out starts at least 10 weeks old in spring. Agastache is easy to grow and flexible in its culturalrequirements, tolerating wet winters and heavy soils. It prefers full sun and a moderate amount ofsummer water and an average loam. Plant 2’ on center. Weed to avoid resource competition.PestGophers occasionally predate, deer do not browse. Insect pests include Diabrotica, the cucumber beetle,and mites can cause light leaf damage.HarvestHarvest the leaves, young flowers and stems in June through August of the first and subsequent seasonswhen the plants are growing vigorously, and the weather is warm or hot. The volatile oils will not bepresent in as high amounts if harvested in the cooler months. Two good harvests are possible per season.A gas hedge trimmer makes quick work cutting for a hang to dry method. When dry, gently roll on a 4”mesh screen to riddle the leaves and flowers off the stems. If fresh herbs are desired hand harvest ispreferable; remove the terminal 5” and other leaves individually. They wilt easily so harvest early in theday and cool down soon after picking. Harvesting early will also avoid bee activity. The best qualityconsists of whole leaves and young flowers.NotesMarketing to western tea companies diversify sales; it makes a fragrant and pleasant tea. Korean mint isattractive enough to be a worthy addition to the ornamental border.Chinese Medicinal Herb Farmwww.chinesemedicinalherbfarm.com© Peggy Schafer 2008

Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb.Common name: Hairy AgrimonyPinyin: xiān hè cǎo 仙 鶴 草Part used: Whole plantFamily: RosaceaePlant DescriptionA hirsute herbaceous perennial, short, erect with a fibrous root system. Branches can get up to three feet in length;leaves are alternately positioned on the stem, oblong, toothed, and irregular. Small, bright yellow flowers form smallacorn-shaped prickly burs in the fall. This plant is cold-hardy and tolerates poor soils. (2)HardinessPrefers temperate climates, USDA zones 4-5.PropagationEasily propagated from seeds, planted directly or in trays in spring.Field ProductionDirect seed or transplant young plants to prepared seedbed, thin to 1-foot spacing, sandy to sandy-loam soilspreferred. Allow to establish first season, harvesting can begin once fully established.PestsNone observed.HarvestHarvest whole plant, dehydrate. (1)NotesWinter buds are conical, white, and used medicinally also in powder form.References1) Medicinal Plants in China, http://www.wpro.who.int/internet/files/pub/69/toc.pd2) Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea, http://www.wpro.who.int/internet/files/pub/97/15.pdf©Copyright NMSU and Western Center RME, WSU

Allium tuberosum/ramosumCommon name: Garlic chivesPinyin: jiu cai zi 韭 菜Part used: LeavesFamily: AlliaceaePlant DescriptionA fast-growing perennial herb with erect, pungent, flat onion-like leaves growing 1-2 feet from small, tough, bulbs.Umbels of white flowers bloom profusely beginning late summer. Prefers cool weather, full sun, moderately loamysand soil. Garlic chives tolerate drought well.HardinessUSDA Zones 4-8. (1)PropagationDirect-seed early spring or transplant from bulbs or divided rhizomes into prepared seedbed.Field ProductionEasy to grow, plant in rows or beds under drip irrigation to minimize invasiveness and spread. Side dress establishedplants with compost in early spring to maintain production and plant vigor. Properly maintained stands can remainproductive indefinitely. Do not plant near ordinary chives or other similar species as identification can becomeconfusing.PestsAphids and powdery mildew have been reported as problems under some conditions.HarvestLeaves are harvested anytime up to flowering time, washed, diced and dried or used fresh like ordinary chives.InvasivenessGarlic chives produce seeds prolifically and also spread by rhizomes. It has escaped cultivation in parts of Europeand the US, and has become weedy in places. Removing flowers before going to seed will minimize invasiveness.Trim rows or beds in early spring to remove unwanted creeping rhizomes.NotesThe flowers can also be used for ornamental purposes in fresh or dried arrangements.References1) Floridata,http://www.floridata.com/ref/A/alli_tub.cfm©Copyright NMSU and Western Center RME, WSU

Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Bge.Common name: NonePinyin: zhi muPart used: RhizomeFamily: LiliaceaePlant DescriptionRare in cultivation this herbaceous plant, growing to 1.5’ tall, looks a lot like grass. Small white vaseshapedflowers are arranged in clusters on racemes that rise above foliage, making the total height of thisperennial 4’ tall. Lateral growing rhizomes are orange and are arranged in segments of three, rather likethe center of the Mercedes Benz logo. Occurring as far north as Mongolia, Anemarrhena is consideredcold hardy. This is not a drought tolerant plant.PropagationBlack faceted seeds form in chambered tan capsules that should be separated if seed was not received assuch. Sow these somewhat fragile seed in the spring or fall. Due to their slow growth habit they shouldbe grown in the nursery for a year or more before planting out. Do not allow to dry out. At the ChineseMedicinal Herb Farm we have found equally good germination (90%) by spring sowing seed in a heatedgreenhouse or outdoors in the fall in wooden flats; emergence takes place in 1-2 weeks. Constanttemperaturestored seed remains viable for more than 4 years.Field ProductionThis plant prefers full sun or part shade in hot regions. Plant into a clean cultivated bed evenly spaced,1’ on center and 2’ between rows. Keep weeded, especially when young to avoid confusion with grassyweeds. Anemarrhena has moderate irrigate needs. Average to low soil fertility is recommended.PestNone.HarvestRoots are dug while dormant in the fall or winter after 3 years or more of growth. Remove the thickenedroots close to the rhizome, and remove any persistent foliage to facilitate washing. A power washer ishelpful. Slice lengthwise and dry.Chinese Medicinal Herb Farmwww.chinesemedicinalherbfarm.com© Peggy Schafer 2008

Angelica dahurica (Fisch. ex Hoffm.) Benth.& HookerCommon name: Daurian angelicaPinyin name: bai zhiPart used: rootFamily: Apiaceaewww.coilingdragon.comPlant DescriptionThis beautiful but short-lived perennial responds to cool, moist fertile soil at the forest edge, valleygrasslands or stream banks. Dauria is near the Mongolian-Siberian border, thus the plant is hardy to Zone4. First-year plants remain in a basal clump about 30 inches high, fuller in richer soil, with complexdivided leaves 10-20 inches long, and reddish-purple coloration at the base of the clump. In the second orthird year, the plant sends up a sturdy, hollow, one-inch diameter stalk to 8 feet. White flowers are borneon umbels up to 12 inches in diameter in July-September. Seeds follow, turning from greenish white tomedium brown and papery as they ripen.PropagationDry, flat seeds with dorsal and lateral ribs will wind-disperse widely, with a few germinating years later ina moist setting. (The plant has naturalized in our garden.) Dormancy occurs less than six months afterseed harvest, and dry-stored seeds are all dead after one year. Light is required for germination. Surfacesow fresh seed on moist medium, 15-21 days at 70°F.Field ProductionSeedlings may be kept in pots for more than one season before setting out. Rich soil and moisture willincrease size in all parts. Plant at a 24-inch radius in partial shade. Water evenly for best results, althoughthis species is tough and can endure neglect and short periods of drought. Yield estimated at 5 pounds dryweight per 100 square feet.PestsNone noted.HarvestCylindrical, pale brown roots 1-2 inches thick and 4-7 inches long must be harvested before the stalkemerges. The roots have a longitudinal grain, a white interior and a pleasant odor resembling that of wildQueen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota). Remove leaves, trim side roots, make thin even longitudinal oroblique slices of main root, dry thoroughly.NotesAngelica formosana H. de Boissieu is synonymous with A. dahurica. Angelica taiwaniana S.S. Ying is asubstitute for bai zhi and has a slightly different leaf texture.© 2009 High Falls Gardenswww.highfallsgardens.net

Angelica sinensis, (Oliv.) DielsAlternate species:A. acutiloba (Siebold &Zucc) KitagA. polymorpha var. sinensis (Oliv.)Common name: Chinese AngelicaPinyin: dang guiPart used: RootFamily: ApiaceaeAngelica sinensisDry Dang Gui in aBozhou herb market.Plant DescriptionA primary herb in the materia medica and much in demand; effort should be made to grow this crop.Perennial and herbaceous, Dang Gui grows up to 4’ tall with the typical white flowering umbel andwhitish roots. The leaves and plants are more delicate than the western Angelica archangelica, the AsianA. dahurica, and A. pubescens. The foliage is divided into 3 leaflets and is green with purple overtones.Not surprisingly the whole plant smells like celery, which is in the same family.PropagationAngelica sinensis can be a challenging herb to grow. “The plants like a cool, moist environment withdeep, rich, sandy soil, high in organic matter…It does best in very high and cold conditions in a shaded,moist location”. 1 Many varieties of seed in the apiaceae family are considered to be short-lived; havingsaid this the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm had close to 100% germination several times with Februarysown seed that was just over 2 years old. Seed should be kept moist.Field ProductionPlant Angelica 1’ apart in part shade. Low vigor is a common problem. The Flora of China states “Wildor cultivated in forests, shrubby thickets; 2500-3000 meters” 2 The Chinese provinces where Dang Gui isnative are predominantly covered with evergreen forests. 3PestNone noted.HarvestFoster notes that Dang Gui is harvested after 2 or 3 years of growth in the fall, and notes further that oneyear plants are not harvested as they yield inferior medicine. 11 Steven Foster and Yue Chongxi, Herbal Emissaries: Bringing Chinese Herbs to the West. (Rochester, VT: Healing ArtsPress, 1992), 70-71.2 Flora of China, http://wwwefloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=2000015389 Accessed September 9, 2008.Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA3 Flora of China, http://wwwefloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=2000015389Chinese Medicinal Herb Farmwww.chinesemedicinalherbfarm.com© Peggy Schafer 2008

Arctium lappaCommon name: Burdock, GoboPinyin: niu pang zi 牛 蒡 子Part used: root and burrFamily: AsteraceaePlant DescriptionGobo is a stout, erect biennial, native to Eurasia, usually to 6 feet. It is a common weed on roadsides and wasteplaces. The leaves are large, up to 16" at the base, becoming smaller toward the top, oval to heart-shaped,smooth above with whitish down underneath, resembling rhubarb. Globular flowers (in 2nd year) appear inclusters at top of stalk with stiff hooks which cling to anything coming in contact. Bracts enclose purple florets,then later, large achenes with a short pappus of stiff hairs on each seed. The root is a long tap root up to 3 feet,growing straight down into the soil, being fleshy and gray brown on the outside, whitish on the inside. (1)Hardiness & PropagationUSDA Zones 4-10. Several cultivars have been developed, primarily in Japan. Obtain these improved varieties ifpossible. Gobo is easily grown direct-seeded in late summer or spring.Field ProductionGobo roots are most easily grown in a sandy loam for ease of harvest and cleaning. For root production, Gobo can betreated as an annual crop. Thin seedlings to 12”-18” spacing, side dress with compost periodically. For seedproduction, two seasons are required. Allow the plant to overwinter and bolt the following summer.HarvestFor root production, harvest roots by hand or using a root grubber implement in the fall of the first growing seasonafter dormancy. Wash, scrub, and clean off any small roots, leaving the main tap root. Gobo root can be sold fresh orsliced or chopped, dried, and packaged. For seed production, cut or remove fully mature, dried seed stalks and burrsafter the second season of growth. Thresh the burrs to release the seeds, then screen and winnow to separate seedsfrom burrs and chaff. Store in an air-tight container or freezer to prevent insect damage.PestsGrasshoppers and weevils can be serious pests of Gobo roots. Grasshoppers can defoliate first year plants, reducingplant vigor and root size and yield. Cover plants with remay or light netting to deter grasshopper feeding. Weevilscan decimate the seed crop, burrowing into the ripe seedheads and feeding on the seeds. Cover ripe seedheads withremay, burlap or coarse mesh cloth to deter feeding.InvasivenessControl or prevent seed production when cultivating under field conditions to avoid seed escape and spread toneighboring farms and fields. If grown for the root, destroy all unwanted plants after harvest. Composting will notkill the seeds, incineration of unwanted burrs and plant material is recommended.References(1) Earthnotes Herb Library, 2009. http://earthnotes.tripod.com/burdock_h.htm©Copyright NMSU and Western Center RME, WSU

Artemisia annuaCommon name: Sweet AnniePinyin: qīng hāoPart used: plant topsFamily: Asteraceae©herbpure.comPlant DescriptionA fast-growing herbaceous annual up to six feet in height, with fern-like leaves. It is a short day plant with a criticalphotoperiod of 13.5 hr. (2) The plant is usually single-stemmed with alternate branches and alternate, deeplydissected, aromatic leaves ranging from one to two inches in length. Tiny yellow nodding flowers are in loosepanicles. (2)HardinessUSDA Zones 4-8. This species is temperate zone in origin but has adapted widely except in the tropics. (1)PropagationThe seed can be sown in a coldframe or greenhouse and transplanted to the field in late spring. Alternatively, the seed canbe sown directly in the field in late spring. (3)Field ProductionAn easily grown plant, succeeding in a well-drained slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a sunny position. Plants arelonger lived, hardier and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil. Qing Hao is a determinate short-day plant.In temperate climates plants flower in early September with mature seeds produced in October. Most collections ofartemisia derive from natural stands with highly variable artemisinin content. Selections from Chinese origin are preferreddue to higher artemisinin concentrations. (2)PestsThe species is hardy and virtually pest-free. (3)HarvestApproximately one hundred days to leaf harvest, one hundred sixty days to seed (4).InvasivenessThis species is known to become weedy and invasive. It has escaped from cultivation and has naturalized in much ofthe world. (1)NotesSkin contact with the plant can cause dermatitis or other allergic reactions in some people. The pollen is extremelyallergenic. (3)References1) USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2009. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ARAN32) Purdue University New Crop Proceedings. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/V3-578.html3) Plants for a Future database, 2009. http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Artemisia+annua4) Horizon Herbs, 2009. http://www.horizonherbs.com/group.asp?grp=43&pgNUM=2©Copyright NMSU and Western Center RME, WSU

Artemisia vulgarisCommon name: mugwortPinyin: ai ye 艾 葉Part used: leaves and flowersFamily: AsteraceaePlant DescriptionMugwort is a tall herbaceous perennial growing as high as six feet. Leaves are finely divided, arranged alternatelyon stems that can become woody late in the season. Flowers bloom from July to September, are compound, verysmall, and inconspicuous. The inflorescence is racemose, terminally located on each stem. Mugwort is verydrought tolerant.HardinessUSDA Zones 4-8.PropagationMugwort is a prolific seed producer and is readily propagated from direct seeding in late summer, early fall, orspring. Thin plants as they grow to establishment. No special care is needed in germination.Field ProductionIn areas where mugwort has become naturalized, formal cultivation is not recommended. Mature plants can reach 6-8feet in diameter, so thin plants in established areas to at least that distance. Mugwort prefers full sun, tolerates poorsoils very well. Mugwort dies back to the ground each year, prune back old woody growth to ground level tostimulate re-growth and to shape and contain the plant size. Keep from going to seed.HarvestFlower buds and leaves can both be used. For leaves, harvest branches before flowering, strip off leaves by hand,spread evenly on mesh trays or on drying racks and air-dry at room temperature with adequate ventilation for severaldays, turning daily. The flowers can be harvested when still in bud stage or just opening, then cleaned and gathered orrolled into a “fluff” for a more valuable form of moxa.InvasivenessMugwort is highly invasive due to its prolific seed production and competitiveness. It has already become anestablished invasive species in many parts of the US. To prevent and minimize invasiveness, harvest or remove allflowers before they go to seed. Prune back all branches periodically after harvest to prevent re-flowering later in theseason. Hoe out any seedlings from around the main plants.NotesMoxa is the product made from mugwort, used in moxibustion. It is very commonly used in Oriental medicine, but isalso very inexpensive, making it difficult to grow and harvest profitably.©Copyright NMSU and Western Center RME, WSU

Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr.Common name: asparagus tuberPinyin name: tian men dongPart used: tuberFamily: LiliaceaePlant DescriptionThis herbaceous, dioecious perennial with slightly woody, climbing stems 3-6 feet in length resembles thehouseplant A. sprengeri but is hardy to Zone 5. The stems bear short needle-like side stems with the formand function of leaves (cladodes), plus short spines. Tiny bell-shaped greenish flowers are borne in Mayor June, followed by quarter-inch round green berries in September. The berry becomes translucent whenripe, revealing one or two round black seeds within and resembling a fish eye.PropagationBerries will stay moist for months in cool storage. Remove seeds from pulp. Plant in 72-cell trays, keepevenly moist. A few fresh seeds will germinate immediately, but most come up after 15 months atvarying temperatures 70-40ºF. Seedlings may be transplanted into larger pots and held for a season ormore. Propagation from tubers, in our experience to date, has been unsuccessful.Field ProductionPlant sturdy seedlings in full sun, average well-drained soil, at an 18-inch radius. Benefits from mulchingbut seems little affected by drought. Train emerging stems to 4-foot plant stakes to encourage floweringand fruiting. More stems emerge from the crown each year as the plant ages; the number of tubersincreases proportionally. Yield on 3-4 year plants is estimated at 3 pounds dry weight per 100 square feet.PestsNone noted.HarvestAfter tops have died back in autumn, clip to stubs. Dig beside the crown and take only a few tubers,allowing the plant to regenerate. The cylindrical or spindle-shaped, yellow-brown tubers areapproximately one to two inches long and dry to half that length. They remain somewhat sticky and shinyor translucent, as befits their Yin-nourishing function. Cut into half-inch pieces for decoction.NotesThe tubers are sometimes used fresh, also are juiced.© 2009 High Falls Gardenswww.highfallsgardens.net

Aster tataricusCommon name: Tatarian asterPinyin: zi wanPart used: rootFamily: AsteraceaePlant DescriptionThis stout perennial grows over five feet tall with lower leaves that are large, coarse and lanceolate with upperleaves much smaller. In late summer or early fall light purple ray flowers appear in several clusters.HardinessUSDA Hardiness Zones 3-8.PropagationStart indoors or directly outdoors in early spring, barely covering the seeds. Germination in flats is around 2 ½weeks. Once parent plants are established, Aster tataricus is easily propagated by root division from matureplants.Field ProductionSoil should be of average fertility and well draining. Set out or thin plants on 2-foot centers. Mulch to promotewater retention. Tatarian aster is not drought tolerant and needs regular irrigation for greatest productivity.PestsTatarian aster is susceptible to aster yellows virus.HarvestRoots are harvested in the fall after two or more years of growth. Wash the roots with a power washer and trimoff the rootlets and air dry. Dry the main roots under low heat. “Good quality is long and reddish purple”(Bensky et al, 2004).InvasivenessThough not invasive this aster should not be allowed to cross with native asters.ReferencesChinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, compiled and translated by Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble.Fourth edition, Eastland Press, Inc., 2004.©Copyright NMSU and Western Center RME, WSU

Astragalus membranaceus, (Fisch.) Bge.Common name: Astragalus, Milk vetchPinyin: Huang QiPart used: rootFamily: FabaceaePlant descriptionResembling other members of the pea family, Astragalus grows to 3’ tall with somewhat ramblingstems. The pinnately compound leaves are bluish – green in color. Astragalus is a deciduous perennial.Blossoms form out of leaf axils and develop into racemes with yellow pea-like flowers, maturing into 1”long seed pods. Naturally occurring as far north as Mongolia 1 , Astragalus can generally be consideredhardy.PropagationSeeds are sown in the spring or fall, but because they have a hard seed coat it is common practice toscarify by rubbing with sandpaper or nicking with a sharp knife, nail clippers etc. Soaking the seedovernight is another method to aid germination. Here at the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm we havefound good germination without employing scarification methods. Germination takes place from 6-20days with bottom heat. It is also common to use an innoculant. One used for Vetch cover crops isadvised. Plants are drought tolerant in pots and field. Nursery media should be extra well-draining. Donot over water. Over watering is the most frequent reason for Astragalus to die.Field ProductionGrow milk vetch in a sunny location in very well drained, sandy, soil. Fertilizers and compost are notrecommended. Plant or sow 1’ apart. Direct seeding has brought good results. Seed emergence isvariable and takes place from 1-4 weeks. Seedling transplants can be field planted from 14 weeks to 1year if the pots/cultivation boxes are deep.PestGophers are a big predator, deer to a much lesser extent.HarvestRoots are dug while dormant in the fall after 4 years growth. The whitish yellow roots grow 3-4’ straightdown making hand harvesting the norm as machine harvest would miss much of the root. Check theroots for pithiness or any potential rot as it may not be initially obvious. Wash thoroughly and dry bycutting the roots lengthwise.1 Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica (Eastland Press, 1993), p. 319.Chinese Medicinal Herb Farmwww.chinesemedicinalherbfarm.com© Peggy Schafer 2008

Astragalus sinicus L.Common name: Chinese milk vetchPinyin: geng ge hua 紫 雲 英Part used: leaves, rootsFamily: FabaceaePlant DescriptionChinese milk vetch is an herbaceous perennial with pinnate leaves and pink-purple flowers, usually grown as a winterannual; it is a native of China and introduced to Japan (1) and closely resembles Huang Qi, Astragalusmembranceous. Growers will need to be careful not to plant them in succession or near each other to avoid misidentification.Hardiness & PropagationUSDA Zones 4-10. Chinese milkvetch should be inoculated with Rhizobium prior to planting in spring for greatestyields. As a forage crop, it can be broadcast or solid-seeded; as a root crop, seed can be sown in rows and thinned toone-foot spacing for larger root diameter and yield.Field ProductionChinese milkvetch is slow to emerge and establish, weeds will need to be carefully controlled early on. Cultivation inrows is recommended for ease of weed control.PestsGrasshoppers have been observed to feed heavily on Chinese milkvetch, but the plant usually recovers in the fall. It isalso susceptible to a number of virus diseases, including alfalfa mosaic and mild vetch dwarf virus. Pure virus-freeseed and isolation are the best ways to prevent these diseases.HarvestA well-grown crop is said to yield fifteen tons per acre of green material at the early flowering stage.(1)Roots can behand dug or harvested with a root grubber, yields are comparable to those for Huang Qi, Astragalus membranaceous.InvasivenessChinese milk vetch is a hard-seeded legume, and may persist in fields in following years. Crop rotations and deeptillage will easily control volunteer plants. Do not let volunteer plants go to seed.NotesChinese milk vetch is a multi-purpose crop, serving as a forage, green manure, vegetable or medicinal crop. It is alsouseful in re-seeding eroded or waste places when inoculated with legume-fixing Rhizobium bacteria. Organic growerswill need to be aware that certain modern varieties have been genetically engineered for higher tryptophanproduction.References1) FAO Plant Database, 2009. http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/DATA/Pf000465.HTM©Copyright NMSU and Western Center RME, WSU

Atractylodes macrocephala, Koidz.Common name: Chinese Thistle DaisyPinyin: Bai ZhuPart used: rootFamily: AsteraceaePlant descriptionA prickly, hot pink flowering, uncommon herbaceous perennial, it resembles a thistle – but it is not.Grows 1-2’ tall in Northern California. Highly variable in form, from low growing compact plants totaller and looser, and from very prickly to less so. This plant grows in central eastern China and shouldbe hardy to about 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit. To see a detailed distribution map on the internet go toTropicos Flora of China Checklist Project at http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/FOC/projsfoc.html.PropagationEasy to germinate in the spring or fall with up to 90% germination rate. On-going germination from 14-30 days. Do not over water.Field productionTransplant out 8-12 week seedlings in spring on 8” to 1’ centers in the full sun. Keep on the drier side;roots have a tendency to rot. Seed is slow to mature.PestsNone.HarvestThis rarely grown but important medicinal is probably grown at least two or three years, beforeharvesting the root while the plant is dormant. Traditionally the root is sliced.Chinese Medicinal Herb Farmwww.chinesemedicinalherbfarm.com© Peggy Schafer 2008