Chop-Suey Greens
Chrysanthemum coronarium spatiosum
Family: Asteraceae or Compositae
What it is like
Chrysanthemum coronarium spatiosum is a ANNUAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft). It is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 1.2
Where it is found
Cultivated ground and waste places.
S. Europe.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 3
Young shoots and stems - raw or cooked. Strongly aromatic, they are used as a flavouring or as a vegetable. Cooked leaves become bitter if overcooked at a high temperature. Young leaves are excellent in salads. The leaves quickly wilt once they have been picked so it is best to harvest them as required. They contain about 1.85% protein, 0.43% fat, 2.57% carbohydrate, 0.98% ash. They are rich in vitamin B1, contain a moderate content of vitamin C and a little vitamin A. Flowers - raw. Blanched briefly and added to salads. The centre of the flower is bitter so only the petals are normally used. A fragrant pickle known as 'kikumi' is made from the petals in Japan.
Medicine
Rating: 2
The leaves are expectorant and stomachic. In conjunction with black pepper it is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea. The flowers are aromatic, bitter and stomachic. They are used as a substitute for camomile (Chamaemelum nobile). The bark is purgative, it is used in the treatment of syphilis.
Aromatic: Having an agreeable odour and stimulant qualities.
Bitter: Increases the appetite and stimulates digestion by acting on the mucous membranes of the mouth. Also increases the flow of bile, stimulates repair of the gut wall lining and regulates the secretion of insulin and glucogen.
Expectorant: Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
Purgative: A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.
Stomachic: Aids and improves the action of the stomach.
VD: Used in the treatment of venereal disease
Vitamin C: Plants good for their vitamin C content
Other
Rating: 0
Possibly a good companion plant, protecting neighbouring plants from caterpillars etc. There is a report that secretions from the roots can be effective in controlling nematodes in the soil, but this has not been substantiated.
Repellent: Plants that are said to deter but not necessarily kill various mammals, birds, insects etc.
How it is grown
Succeeds in ordinary garden soil, but it prefers a well-drained fertile soil in full sun. It will tolerate light shade in the summer. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.2 to 7.5. Plants do not grow well at temperatures above 25°c, tending to become bitter in hot weather. Plants withstand light frosts. Chop suey greens are commonly cultivated as a vegetable in the Orient and are becoming better known in the West. There are many named varieties. It takes 4 - 5 weeks from sowing the seed to the first harvest when plants are grown on the cut and come again principle. Plants often self-sow when they are well-sited and the soil is disturbed by hoeing etc.
Propagating it: Seed - surface-sow in spring to early autumn in situ. The seed usually germinates within 10 - 18 days at 15°c. Successional sowings can be made at intervals of a few weeks in order to ensure a constant supply of young plants. Autumn sowings succeed in mild areas. An autumn sowing under cover will often supply leaves all winter.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Annual
Hardiness: 0-0
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist