Eutrema japonicum Seeds | Wasabi
LATIN NAME: Eutrema japonicum
COMMON NAME: Wasabi
Plant Profile
A distinctive member of its genus, Wasabi (Eutrema japonicum) is a low, creeping, perennial. It spreads slowly through gravel beds, and it stands cold winters and clear, running water well. Full sun is ideal, in deep, fertile ground. Not many plants ask so little and repay so much.
Science & Biotechnology
As part of the Eutrema group, Eutrema japonicum contributes to research on plant classification and adaptation, while nurseries and gardeners continue to trial it for cultivation. Wasabi has a real and distinguished place in the research. Nothing exotic is required: standard seed-sowing practice, done carefully, is enough.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Wasabi for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Ecologically, wasabi is a generous plant of water garden. Its small, white, four-petalled flowers feed bees and insects, and its broad, glossy leaves give a fine, leafy presence to cold stream and water garden. It establishes readily and then requires nothing out of the ordinary.
Wasabi’s genus gives the true wasabi of Japanese streams and its mountain kin: fresh rhizomes carry the isothiocyanates studied for antimicrobial effects, and genuine wasabi is a rare culinary treasure.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Wasabi under ordinary good conditions. A simple routine works well: sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, maintain even moisture, and provide full sun. Prick the seedlings out once they are large enough to handle, grow them on in bright light, and plant out when conditions allow.
Our Take
Wasabi has real presence in the garden without demanding much in return. Attention to moisture in the first weeks pays off; later, the plant is forgiving.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Wasabi often pair it with these related subjects: