Chinese artichoke, Japanese artichoke
Stachys affinis

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a tuber crop that keeps growing from year to year. It forms a low spreading clump. This is 30-45 cm tall. It produces a string of white tubers on the underground stems. The flowers are blue. The tubers are 3-5 cmlong by 2 cm wide. They are cylinder shaped with rings. See Stachys sieboldii.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is best in rich, well-drained soil in full sun. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brazil, China, Europe, France, India, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, North America, Slovenia, South America, USA

How it is used for food

Tubers are eaten raw or boiled. They are washed and eaten raw in salads. They can be roasted or stir fried. They can be pickled.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Root, tuber, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from tubers. They can be planted 4 to 15 cm deep and about 10 cm apart.

Tubers are harvested after the tops die back with the first frost.

Its other names

Local names

Bazi, Crosnes, Diguniu, Gan lu zi, Knotroot

Synonyms

Stachys geobombycis var. alba C. Y. Wu & H. W. Li; Stachys pauciflora Benth.; Stachys sieboldii Miq.; Stachys tubifera Naudin;