Ligusticum sinense Seeds | Gao Ben
LATIN NAME: Ligusticum sinense
COMMON NAME: Gao Ben, Chinese Lovage, Hemlock-Parsley
Plant Profile
Gao Ben (Ligusticum sinense) grows as a handsome aromatic herb in the parsley family. Gao ben is a handsome aromatic herb of the southern Chinese mountains, and it has been valued in medicine of region for centuries. The ratio of effort to reward here is about as good as gardening gets.
Science & Biotechnology
Botanists studying the parsley family regularly include Ligusticum sinense in comparative work, and the species also appears in horticultural trials aimed at gardeners and growers. Species has also been studied in botany, since its classification, under both Ligusticum and Conioselinum, has been examined by taxonomists. It is the kind of species that plant scientists reach for when they need reliable material for propagation and selection studies.
Uses & Benefits
Beyond its ornamental appeal, Gao Ben has the practical versatility that makes a plant worth growing from seed year after year. Ecologically, gao ben is a generous plant of mountain meadow. Its white flower heads feed bees and other pollinators, and its leafy growth covers and shades ground, while it grows in damp meadows of the southern Chinese mountains. Its economic value is real and significant. It establishes readily and then requires nothing out of the ordinary.
Ligusticum roots, including Chuan Xiong and Gao Ben, are major Chinese herbs for moving blood and relieving headache; their phthalides, especially ligustilide, are intensively studied for vascular and neurological effects.
Growing from Seed
Gao Ben 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. Move strong seedlings into individual pots, keep them in good light, and set them out when the weather and their size agree.
Our Take
It forms a handsome aromatic herb, which makes spacing and siting straightforward. Young plants want steady water; older plants take conditions as they come.
Related Reading
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