Aster yomena

(Kitam.) Honda.

Yomena

Asteraceae Edible: Leaves 114 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-sa

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa

iNaturalist· cc-by-sa

Summary

Aster yomena (syn. Kalimeris yomena), the kalimeris or Japanese aster, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Korea and Japan. Locals occasionally collect its young leaves and cook them as a leaf vegetable. A perennial reaching 1.5 ft (45 cm) high, and hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8, it is considered an easy plant for beginning gardeners, and can be grown "without fear of failure". There are a number of ornamental cultivars under its synonym Kalimeris yomena, with the variegated 'Shogun' being widely commercially available.

Description

A perennial growing to 1.5 m in height. Flowers from August to October with simultaneous seed ripening during the same period. Hermaphroditic and self-fertile with flowers pollinated by bees, flies, beetles, and Lepidoptera. Thrives in light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Tolerates mildly acidic, neutral, and basic soil pH. Requires full sun and moist soil conditions. Hardy to UK zone 6.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Edible Uses: Leaves and young plants - cooked.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves are cooked and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in moist lowlands in Japan. It can grow in cool climates to hardiness zone 5-9.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Japan, Korea,

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring in a cold frame. Do not allow the compost to become dry. Pre-chilling the seed for two weeks can improve germination rates. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks at 20°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted straight into their permanent positions whist smaller clumps are best potted up and kept in a cold frame until they are growing away well.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Notes

There are about 250 Aster species.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Leaves	90.2	121	29	2.2	—	42	4	0.7

Synonyms

Aster incisa var. yomena Kitam.Kalimeris yomena (Kitam.) Kitam.

Also Known As

Ssukpujaengi

References (7)

Chen, B. & Qiu, Z., Consumer's Attitudes towards Edible Wild Plants, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. p 22 www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfr/aip/872413.pdf
Cultivated vegetables of the world: a multilingual anomasticon. 2011, Springer (As Kalimeris yomena)
Food Composition Tables for use in East Asia FAO http://www.fao.org/infoods/directory No. 567 (As Kalimeris yomena)
Kim, H. & Song, M., 2013, Ethnobotanical analysis for traditional knowledge of wild edible plants in North Jeolla Province (Korea). Genetic. Resour. Crop Evol. (2013) 60:1571-1585
Pemberton, R. W. & Lee, N. S., 1996, Wild Food Plants in South Korea: Market Presence, New Crops, and Exports to the United States. Economic Botany, Vol. 50, No. 1, pp. 57-70

Show all 7 references