Saussurea involucrata Seeds | Snow Lotus Xue Lian Wild Flower Chinese
LATIN NAME: Saussurea involucrata
COMMON NAME: Snow Lotus, Xue Lian
Plant Profile
Snow Lotus (Saussurea involucrata) is a low, perennial in the daisy family (Asteraceae), native to high, rocky slopes of the central Asia and the himalaya, while it has been used in traditions for a very long time. Plants that offer this much while asking this little are rare enough to treasure.
Science & Biotechnology
The snow lotus of the high Tien Shan grows only above roughly 2,400 metres, flowering among rock and glacier margins — an ecology that made it famous in Chinese medicine for rheumatism and ‘cold’ conditions, and nearly extinct in the wild from over-collection. Its studied constituents include rutin, syringin and chlorogenic acid, with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in animal models. It is a nationally protected species in China, and legal supply depends on cultivation. Anyone growing it from seed is participating, in a small way, in taking pressure off the wild populations.
The species features in the wider study of the daisy family, and its traits make it a useful subject for work on germination biology, cultivation and ornamental selection. Snow lotus has a real and distinguished place in research. Contemporary seed practice means a grower can raise it confidently with standard techniques.
Uses & Benefits
Snow Lotus works well in borders, containers and dedicated beds. This high-altitude herb is a low, perennial plant of rocky mountain slopes, bearing bright-green, toothed leaves and striking, white, woolly, lotus-like flower heads in the summer. Its flowers are pollinated by high-altitude insects, and its low, hardy habit makes it a distinctive plant of alpine ecosystems, while its rarity and its medicinal reputation have made it a plant of conservation concern. To raise snow lotus, sow fresh seeds in pots of gritty, open soil in a cool, shaded place, keep them gently watered, and grow little plants on in the light. Beyond the establishment year, its needs are simple and few.
Snow lotus of the high Himalaya, Xue Lian Hua, is a legendary Chinese tonic for cold-damp pain and vitality, its rarity driving cultivation research; costus root, Mu Xiang, its lowland cousin, is a major qi-moving digestive herb.
Growing from Seed
Snow Lotus grows readily from seed. Broadcast the seed thinly over a fine, free-draining compost, sieve a little more compost on top, and water with a fine rose. Once the seedlings have made true leaves, pot them on individually and plant out when they are sturdy and conditions are right.
Our Take
Snow Lotus repays a little patience at sowing time with plenty of garden presence later.
Related Reading
Continue exploring with these related plants: