Stachys affinis Seeds | Chinese Artichokes
LATIN NAME: Stachys affinis
COMMON NAME: Chinese Artichoke
Plant Profile
Chinese Artichoke (Stachys affinis) is a distinctive species in the mint family. The Chinese artichoke swirls dense, leafy clumps with soft, hairy stems and small, hooded, pink-purple flowers through autumn, the whole plant carrying the neat, useful look of the old vegetable herbs. Leaves are narrow and toothed, and clumps spread steadily through rich, moist soil. It likes sun or part shade, and deep, rich, moist soil. Taken as a whole, it is a plant that repays a little attention many times over.
Science & Biotechnology
Research touching on Stachys affinis ranges from the botany of the mint family to practical horticulture, including seed handling, propagation and the selection of superior forms. In the mint family, the Chinese artichoke holds a small but curious place in studies of root vegetables and heritage crops. Centuries of cultivation have left a detailed record of how it grows and behaves.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Chinese Artichoke for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. In kitchen garden, the Chinese artichoke keeps old crops alive. Crisp, spiralling tubers have been eaten raw in salads and cooked in savoury dishes for generations, giving table light, nutty crunch, and plant provides neat, leafy cover through the season. It grows easily in rich, moist soil and rewards grower with steady harvest. Routine care after establishment is refreshingly light.
Lamb’s ears are silver tactile groundcovers, and betony, their cousin, was the great European head herb of the old herbals; Chinese medicine uses the artichoke-like tubers of Stachys affinis as a pickled delicacy, crosnes.
Growing from Seed
Raising Chinese Artichoke from seed is straightforward. Sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly into a loose, well-drained seed compost, water in gently, and keep the sowing in partial shade with steady moisture. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
Chinese Artichoke has real presence in the garden without demanding much in return. Give the seed freshness and steady moisture, and nature handles the rest.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Chinese Artichoke often pair it with these related subjects: