Osbeckia chinensis
Family: Melastomataceae
What it is like
Osbeckia chinensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in flower in July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. 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): 0.5
Where it is found
Grassy places in lowland areas of central and southern Japan. Hilly places, edges of paddy fields and roadsides in China.
E. Asia - China, Japan and Malaysia.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 2
The whole plant is antitussive, expectorant and febrifuge. A decoction is used in the treatment of watery diarrhoea, dysentery and excessive sputum production in coughing.
Antitussive: Prevents or relieves coughing.
Dysentery: Used in treating dysentery - an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.
Expectorant: Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
Requires warm greenhouse treatment in Britain.
Propagating it: Seed -
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 8-11
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist