Boehmeria nivea Seeds | Chinese Herb Ramie
LATIN NAME: Boehmeria nivea
COMMON NAME: Ramie
Plant Profile
Among the ornamental and useful plants raised from seed, Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) stands out as an upright, bushy perennial in the nettle family. Ramie fibres upright, bushy perennial with broad, heart-shaped, finely toothed, dark-green leaves that are softly white-felted beneath and small, greenish flower clusters that open through summer, the whole plant carrying the bold, leafy form. Stems carry strong, silky bast fibres that have served weaving for generations. It likes sun, and rich, moist, well-drained soil. While it flowers, it feeds a quiet procession of bees and hoverflies. Gardeners value it precisely for this blend of qualities.
Science & Biotechnology
Botanists studying the nettle family regularly include Boehmeria nivea in comparative work, and the species also appears in horticultural trials aimed at gardeners and growers. In nettle family, ramie holds a long, silky record in studies of fibre crops, and species appears in research on bast fibre strength and stem processing. Nothing exotic is required: standard seed-sowing practice, done carefully, is enough.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Ramie for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. In warm garden, ramie fibres cloth and greens the border. Strong, silky fibres serve fine cloths, ropes and papers for generations, and bold, white-felted leaves give lush, leafy form. It grows well in rich, moist, well-drained, sunny ground and crops for years from the same roots. Given the right start, it carries on with minimal intervention.
Ramie is one of the oldest fiber crops, yielding silky white bast fiber, and in Chinese medicine the root, Zhu Ma Gen, is a classical herb for calming pregnancy and cooling blood. The leaves also serve as a protein-rich forage.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Ramie under ordinary good conditions. Use a fine, free-draining seed compost, scatter the seed evenly, cover it lightly and hold it just moist in good light. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
Given the right start, Ramie is a long-term garden companion. Keep the sowing evenly moist at the start — that is the one real requirement.
Related Reading
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