Stachys baicalensis — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves

Young leaves can be eaten cooked.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant. In China it grows on wet grassy areas near riverbanks. It grows between 200-1700 m altitude in northern regions.

Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Russia,

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, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. There are underground stems. The above ground stems are erect and 50-100 cm high. They sometimes branch near the top. The leaf stalk is 0-2 mm long. The leaf blade is 3-11 cm long by 0.4-1.5 cm wide. There are teeth along the edge. There are 6 flowers in a ring. They are purple.

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 any deep well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun or light shade. A good bee plant.

Propagation: Sow seed in spring in a cold frame. Prick seedlings into individual pots once large enough to handle and grow on in the greenhouse through their first winter. Plant out into permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Divide in spring.

Medicinal Uses

The stem and leaves are astringent, carminative, and deodorant. The whole plant is depurative, diuretic, and haemostatic. A decoction is used to treat metrorrhagia, haematuria, jaundice, and bacterial dysentery.

Other Uses

The plant has deodorant properties.

Wikipedia

A perennial herb reaching 0.6 m (2 ft) tall. Flowers appear in July with seeds ripening by August. The plant is hermaphroditic and insect-pollinated. It thrives in light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils with good drainage and tolerates mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH. Grows in semi-shade or full sun and prefers consistently moist soil. Noted for attracting wildlife.

Notes

There are about 300 Stachys species.

References (2)

Li Hai-wen, Hedge, I.C., Lamiaceae. Flora of China. p 233
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/