Saposhnikovia divaricata Seeds | Laserwort
LATIN NAME: Saposhnikovia divaricata
COMMON NAME: Laserwort
Plant Profile
Laserwort (Saposhnikovia divaricata) grows as a tough, aromatic herb. Laserwort is tough, aromatic herb of dry, grassy hills of the northern Asia, and it has been a familiar of traditional medicine of region for a very long time. The whole plant carries a strong, earthy, aromatic scent. It is a quiet, useful plant of dry, open ground, and root is part that has been prized through the ages. The flowers pull in pollinating insects, which quietly widens its usefulness in the garden. Not many plants ask so little and repay so much.
Science & Biotechnology
As part of the Saposhnikovia group, Saposhnikovia divaricata contributes to research on plant classification and adaptation, while nurseries and gardeners continue to trial it for cultivation. Laserwort has a steady place in plant science, mostly because of compounds found in its root. Interest from collectors and breeders has never lapsed, and good seed continues to circulate.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Laserwort for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Laserwort has a long history of use as a traditional remedy, and dried root has been traded for centuries as a valued commodity in herbal markets of the east. Plant is also grown as an ornamental for its fine, airy foliage and its quiet flowers, and young shoots and leaves have a traditional use in the kitchen. Around garden it is a tough, easy plant of dry, sunny, well-drained ground. Establishment is uncomplicated, and afterwards ordinary care suffices.
Fang Feng, saposhnikovia root, is Chinese medicine’s herb of wind, releasing exterior colds and easing spasms in classical formulas; its chromones, such as prim-O-glucosylcimifugin, are the studied markers.
Growing from Seed
Starting Laserwort from seed is simple and satisfying. Sow the seed evenly over the surface and cover lightly, using a loose, well-drained seed compost, and keep it just moist in bright light until the seedlings are well up. Grow the youngsters on steadily in pots until well rooted, then move them to their final positions.
Our Take
Being a tough, aromatic herb, it asks for a permanent spot and repays it yearly. Attention to moisture in the first weeks pays off; later, the plant is forgiving.
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