Bupleurum octoradiatum — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves

Edible Parts: Leaves Shoots Edible Uses: Tender young shoots - cooked. They are produced in spring and in autumn.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant. It grows in northern China.

Asia, China,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

Perennial reaching 0.8 m with a branching growth habit. Flowers September to October with seeds ripening in the same period. Hermaphrodite, self-fertile flowers pollinated by insects. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH preferred. Grows in semi-shade or full sun and prefers moist soil.

How to Grow

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. Succeeds in most soils if they are well drained.

Propagation: Seed - sow spring in the greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 8 weeks at 15°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division might be possible in the spring.

Medicinal Uses

Carminative Deobstruent Febrifuge Carminative, deobstruent, febrifuge.

Other Uses

Fuel The old plant is used as firewood. Special Uses

Wikipedia

Perennial reaching 0.8 m with a branching growth habit. Flowers September to October with seeds ripening in the same period. Hermaphrodite, self-fertile flowers pollinated by insects. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH preferred. Grows in semi-shade or full sun and prefers moist soil.

Notes

There are about 100 Bupleurum species.

References (3)

Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 69
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 139
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/