Ligusticum wallichii Seeds | Chuan Xiong
LATIN NAME: Ligusticum wallichii
COMMON NAME: Chuan Xiong, Szechwan Lovage
Plant Profile
Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum wallichii) is an upright, aromatic perennial in the carrot family, native to warm fields and grasslands of China, while it is grown for its aromatic root. Chuan xiong is a stout and aromatic herb of warm fields, and it has been a plant of traditional medicine of China for a very long time. Put simply, this is a rewarding species for anyone willing to give it a suitable spot.
Science & Biotechnology
Research touching on Ligusticum wallichii ranges from the botany of the carrot family to practical horticulture, including seed handling, propagation and the selection of superior forms. Chuanxiong has a real and distinguished place in the research. Gardeners benefit directly from its long cultivation: what the plant will do in a garden is well understood.
Uses & Benefits
In the garden, Chuan Xiong earns its place in borders, containers and mixed plantings, and it also rewards growers who raise plants for cutting, drying or kitchen use. Ecologically, chuanxiong is a generous plant of cool garden. Its open clusters of small, white flowers feed bees and many insects, and its fine, feathery, aromatic foliage gives a neat, leafy presence to border and herb garden. Once it has settled, the workload drops to almost nothing.
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
Chuan Xiong grows readily from seed. Use a loose, well-drained seed compost, sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly, and keep everything evenly moist in bright light. When the young plants are big enough to handle, space them into pots or a nursery row and let them size up before their final move.
Our Take
Given the right start, Chuan Xiong, Szechwan Lovage is a long-term garden companion. Plant it in sun with drainage to its liking and the rest is easy.
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