Southern shashen
Adenophora verticillata

Family: Campanulaceae

What it is like

A perennial plant. It grows 1 m high. The leaves are broadly oval and have teeth along the edge. The flowers are small. The roots are thick and fleshy.

There are about 40 Adenophora species. They are temperate plants.

Where it is found

It grows best in a light rich slightly alkaline soil. It needs a sunny position.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Laos, SE Asia, Siberia

How it is used for food

The roots are eaten raw or cooked. The taproot is dried is used with jujube, lotus rhizomes and pork bones to make soup. The leaves are eaten cooked. They are used in soup and as a potherb.

Edible parts

Leaves, root, bulb

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. Seeds germinate in 1-3 months at 10°C. They can be transplanted or sown direct. Plants can also be grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Froth shen

Synonyms

Adenophora tetraphylla (Thunberg) Fischer;