Cirsium chinense

Gard. & Champ.

Asteraceae Edible: Root 52 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

A compact perennial thistle reaching 0.8 meters, flowering June to October with seeds maturing July to October. Hermaphrodite, self-fertile flowers attract bees, flies, moths, butterflies, and beetles. Thrives in full sun with sandy, loamy, or clay soils; tolerates mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH and prefers moist conditions.

Description

A herb. It is a thistle. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows between 40-100 cm tall. The stems are erect and branched in the upper section. The lower leaves are narrowly oval and divided. They are 5-7 cm long by 1-4 cm wide.

Edible Uses

The root is edible cooked and is likely rich in inulin, a starch indigestible to humans that passes straight through the digestive system and may ferment in some people, causing flatulence. Young leaves are also edible cooked. Seed oil can be extracted by expression.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in grasslands on mountain slopes between 100-1,600 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Myanmar, SE Asia,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. An easily grown plant, succeeding in any ordinary garden soil in a sunny position.

Propagation

Sow seed in early spring or autumn in situ. Germination usually occurs within 2–8 weeks at 20°C. Can also be propagated by division in spring or autumn.