Cistanche tubulosa Seeds | Desert Cistanche
LATIN NAME: Cistanche tubulosa
COMMON NAME: Desert Cistanche, Tubulose Cistanche
Plant Profile
Among the ornamental and useful plants raised from seed, Desert Cistanche (Cistanche tubulosa) stands out as a perennial in the broomrape family, native to arid regions of the central Asia and the middle east, while it has been used in traditions for a very long time. Pollinating insects take to the flowers at once, adding a little wildlife interest to its garden value. These traits together are what have kept the plant in gardens for so long.
Science & Biotechnology
Research touching on Cistanche tubulosa ranges from the botany of the broomrape family to practical horticulture, including seed handling, propagation and the selection of superior forms. Desert cistanche has a real and distinguished place in research. For practical purposes the message is encouraging: generations of cultivation have produced plants of predictable, well-mannered garden character.
Uses & Benefits
In the garden, Desert Cistanche earns its place in borders, containers and mixed plantings, and it also rewards growers who raise plants for cutting, drying or kitchen use. Desert cistanche is a fleshy, parasitic herb of arid regions, bearing thick, yellow, upright flower spikes which emerge from sand in the spring. Its flowers are pollinated by desert insects, and its parasitic habit makes it a distinctive part of desert ecosystems, while its rarity and its traditional reputation have made it a plant of conservation concern. To raise desert cistanche, sow seeds near roots of a desert host in pots of sandy, open soil in a sunny, warm place, keep them gently watered, and grow little plants on with the host. After the first season it asks for very little beyond a place that suits it.
Cistanche, Rou Cong Rong, is a desert parasitic herb treasured in Chinese medicine as a gentle yang tonic for energy and regularity; its phenylethanoid glycosides, especially echinacoside and acteoside, are extensively studied for neuroprotective activity.
Growing from Seed
Desert Cistanche grows readily from seed. Sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly into a loose, well-drained seed compost, water in gently, and keep the sowing in bright light with steady moisture. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
Desert Cistanche, Tubulose Cistanche has real presence in the garden without demanding much in return. Its wants are few — a sunny spot, soil that drains, and time to settle in.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Desert Cistanche often pair it with these related subjects: