Ixeris polycephala Seeds | Many-headed Ixeris
LATIN NAME: Ixeris polycephala
COMMON NAME: Many-Headed Ixeris
Plant Profile
Known to gardeners as Many-Headed Ixeris, Ixeris polycephala is an annual in the daisy family, native to open, sunny places of the eastern Asia, while it is treasured for its long history of use. In daisy family it is yellow, dandelion-like ixeris of open places, a wayside plant whose young leaves have been gathered as a bitter green in the east. At maturity it stands about Sixty centimetres. During flowering it gives bees and other insects a dependable food source. These traits together are what have kept the plant in gardens for so long.
Science & Biotechnology
Botanists studying the daisy family regularly include Ixeris polycephala in comparative work, and the species also appears in horticultural trials aimed at gardeners and growers. Many-headed ixeris young leaves are a familiar subject in food-plant papers of region, and fine, bitter greens have been examined by researchers of traditional ways. Raising it from seed today is a matter of ordinary good practice rather than specialist skill.
Uses & Benefits
Beyond its ornamental appeal, Many-Headed Ixeris has the practical versatility that makes a plant worth growing from seed year after year. In wildflower garden, many-headed ixeris is yellow plant of sunny patch. Its dandelion-like flower heads feed bees, its many-seeded fruits feed small creatures, and leafy growth gives garden a fine, soft presence. Young leaves have been gathered and eaten as a bitter green in traditional ways of region, and plant grows well in gritty, well-drained ground of open, sunny spot. Once it has its roots down, it more or less looks after itself.
Beyond its looks, it serves the wider garden: the flowers feed bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects, and stems cut for the vase bring the season indoors.
Growing from Seed
Many-Headed Ixeris is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Scatter the seed evenly over a loose seed compost, cover to no more than its own depth, and keep the pot moist and bright. Once the seedlings have made true leaves, pot them on individually and plant out when they are sturdy and conditions are right.
Our Take
Many-Headed Ixeris repays a little patience at sowing time with plenty of garden presence later.
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