Inula japonica Seeds | Japanese Inula
LATIN NAME: Inula japonica
COMMON NAME: Japanese Inula
Plant Profile
Japanese Inula (Inula japonica) is a herbaceous perennial of the daisy family (Asteraceae), native to East Asia from Siberia to Japan. It grows 30-80 cm tall, with lance-shaped leaves and golden-yellow daisy flowers through summer and autumn. The flower heads, xuan fu hua, are a classic qi-directing herb of Chinese medicine, and the plant grows in moist meadows and along streams across the region.
Science & Biotechnology
Research touching on Inula japonica ranges from the botany of the daisy family to practical horticulture, including seed handling, propagation and the selection of superior forms. Golden ray flowers of the Japanese inula give it a recognised place in research on meadow perennials of daisy family, and japonica species appears in studies of flower pigments and traditional medicinal uses. Modern propagation practice has made this species straightforward to raise by ordinary good methods.
Uses & Benefits
Beyond its ornamental appeal, Japanese Inula has the practical versatility that makes a plant worth growing from seed year after year. In sunny border and wild garden, the Japanese inula medallions summer with golden flowers. Blooms open for bees and hoverflies, plant has served traditional remedies for generations, and clump fills border with the colour. It grows well in moist, well-drained, sunny ground. Mature plants need little attention in a well-chosen position.
Elecampane root is a grand old European expectorant, rich in inulin and the sesquiterpene alantolactone, used for centuries in cough syrups; Chinese Xuan Fu Hua flowers serve parallel roles for phlegm.
Growing from Seed
Starting Japanese Inula from seed is simple and satisfying. Sow thinly on the surface of a loose, well-drained seed compost, cover lightly, water in gently and keep the tray in a sunny spot with even moisture. Grow the youngsters on steadily in pots until well rooted, then move them to their final positions.
Our Take
It forms an upright, clumping perennial, which makes spacing and siting straightforward. Japanese Inula is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. Give the seed freshness and steady moisture, and nature handles the rest.
Related Reading
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