Stemona japonica Seeds | Japanese Stemona
LATIN NAME: Stemona japonica
COMMON NAME: Japanese Stemona
Plant Profile
Stemona japonica — Japanese Stemona — is a species in the stemona family (Stemonaceae) with genuine garden merit. The Japanese stemona tufts slender, climbing stems with bright-green, heart-shaped leaves and curious, deep-purple flowers that open along lower stems in early summer, each flower with six pointed lobes. Plant climbs by leaf stalks, and it dies back to thick, fleshy roots through the winter. Roots form clustered, tuberous mass, and they have been gathered for herbal use for generations. The blooms are worked steadily by bees for as long as they are open. Add these qualities together and you have a species well worth a place in the garden.
Science & Biotechnology
As part of the stemona family, Stemona japonica contributes to research on plant classification and adaptation, while nurseries and gardeners continue to trial it for cultivation. In stemona family, clustered roots have kept chemists busy for generations, and the Japanese stemona appears in studies of root alkaloids and medicinal plants. Continuing work by breeders and collectors keeps good seed of this species moving through the trade.
Uses & Benefits
Beyond its ornamental appeal, Japanese Stemona has the practical versatility that makes a plant worth growing from seed year after year. In shaded garden, the Japanese stemona hides treasure under the soil. Deep-purple flowers and leafy stems give unusual, woodland look, clustered roots have served traditional preparations for generations, and thick roots make plant easy to divide and share. It grows well in moist, leafy, sheltered ground. A plant that has settled in will get along with only routine care.
Stemona root, Bai Bu, is a classical Chinese herb for stubborn coughs, including whooping cough, and a traditional wash for lice; its stemonine alkaloids are the researched actives.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Japanese Stemona under ordinary good conditions. Use a loose, well-drained seed compost, sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly, and keep everything evenly moist in partial shade. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
Given the right start, Japanese Stemona is a long-term garden companion. Once established, Japanese Stemona largely looks after itself. After establishment, care settles into an easy routine.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Japanese Stemona often pair it with these related subjects: