#20960 Petasites japonicus, feng dou cai, Japanese coltsfoot, Compositae - One of the first plants to bloom in the spring; large blooms with small white flowers appear in early spring followed by large light green fan shaped leaves, as leaves mature they become darker, grows in rich well-drained soil in shade; roots and runners are said to be bitter, spicy and cooling, clears toxins, removes blockages, reduces swelling, stops pain, tonsil infections, swollen abscesses with toxins and sores, poisonous snake bites, injuries, stems are steamed and eaten in Japan.

Plant = $8.00  

#21170 Pinellia ternata, ban xia, pinellia, Araceae - This tuberous perennial was first recorded in AD 25-220 during the Han dynasty; it has trifoliate adult leaves that grow on bulb-bearing stalks, eye-catching inflorescence appear in summer; grow in moist humus rich soil in part shade; dried tubers are said to be used for coughs with damp cold phlegm, nausea and vomiting.

Plant = $5.00

#21100 Piper nigrum, hu jiao, black pepper, Piperaceae - More commonly used for mixing flavors in food than in medicine, it was first recorded in the Tang pen tsao; tropical climber with leathery black-green leaves, green berries first turn to red and then to black peppercorns; grow in tropical greenhouse in rich well-drained soil in sun or in Zone 11; said to strengthen the stomach, increases appetite in small doses.

Plant = $5.00

#21490 Platycodon grandiflorum, jie geng, balloon flower, Campanulaceae - Compact perennial with ovate blue tinged leaves, in summer clusters of balloon like buds open to bell shaped purple blue flowers, roots are said to be used for kidney deficiency.

Plant = $4.00

#20670 Pogostemon cablin, guang huo xiang, patchouli, Labiatae/Lamiaceae - Aromatic tender perennial, to maintain a compact shape keep pinched back; grows in moist soil with part shade, it enjoys temperatures between 61-64 degrees with high humidity, contains essential oils; leaves and oil are said to act as a diuretic, lowers fever, improves digestion, tonic and sedative effect on nervous system, reputedly is an aphrodisiac.

Plant = $5.00

#20640 Polygonum multiflorum, he shou wu, Chinese cornbind, Polygonaceae This species is the more commonly found species , leaves are heart shaped and solid green, hardy deciduous climber, very important in Chinese medicine and native to southwestern China; roots are said to have a rejuvenating effect on the liver, reproductive, urinary and circulatory systems.

Plant = $5.00

#20660 Polygonum orientale, hong cao, red grass/herb, Polygonaceae - Tall annual which grows up to 6' with 10" leaves in well-drained soil in full sun, bright pink to rose flowers bloom in dense 3-4" spikes or fingers in summer, very beautiful, makes an unusual cut flower arrangement; roasted or steamed seeds are eaten in China, seeds are said to cleanse lungs, brighten eyes and breath, whole plant is also used as medicine for wind damp joint infections, malaria, foot fungus, swollen sores.

Plant = $4.25 

 Seed = $3.00 

#20680 Rehmannia glutinosa, sheng di huang, Chinese foxglove root, Scrophulariaceae - Perennial with purple-green furry leaves and a thick orange tuberous root, it is one of the 50 most important herbs used in Chinese medicine dating back to the Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 23); grows in light, moist, neutral to sandy soil in sun, flowers are purple-brown to reddish yellow and bloom in spring; fresh and dried roots are said to be used in different ways ranging from a blood tonic to having antibacterial properties.

Plant = $6.00

 #21500 Rosa rugosa, mei gui hua, Japanese rose, Rosaceae - Deciduous shrub with prickly stems and dark green leaves, fragrant purple-pink flowers bloom in summer followed by red rose hips; grows 3-6' in well drained fertile slightly acid soil in full sun; flowers and fruit are said to be used for poor appetite and digestion, promotes movement of qi.

Plant = $8.00

#21360 Salix chaenomeloides, Chinese pussy willow, Salicaceae - Graceful non- invasive shrub with catkins 1'to 3''long brighten up the winter months; grow in neutral soil in full sun; inner bark and leaves can be eaten in times of famine.

Plant = $10.00

#21050 Salvia cavaleriei, gui zhou shu wei cao, rat's/mouse tail grass, Labiatae - Tender perennial native to So. China; leaves are oval and soft, foliage turns in the fall, flowers are blue-purple to purple-red and bloom from July to Sept.; grow in rich well-drained soil in part sun to shade, taproot is robust;whole plant is said to be used to cool the blood and relieve toxins, used externally to treat injuries from falls, fractures, contusions and strains.

Plant = $5.00

#20850 Salvia divinorum, Lamiaceae/Labiatae - Tropical perennial, native to northeastern Oaxaca, Mexico; square hollow stems reach 6-10'and bare fertile looking green leaves up to 8" long, white to blue flowers bloom on spikes that grow 14-16" in rich, moist soil in part sun; said to be used by shamans in healing ceremonies.

Plant = $20.00

#21040 Salvia miltiorrhiza, dan shen, salvia root, Labiatae - Perennial with an erect stem and branched downy leaves, blue-purple flowers are grouped in clusters and bloom in summer; grow in rich well-drained soil in sun or part shade, said to be used for irregular menstruation, abdominal pain, irritability and insomnia.

Plant = $6.00

#21510 Salvia sp., Labiatae - This stricking annual grows 3-4', deep red spikes bloom all summer, it's from the original collection but has yet to be identified, very beautiful.

Plant = $3.50

#20770 Saxifraga stolinifera, hu er cao, Strawberry begonia, Saxifragaceae - Ground cover hardy perennial has red-green furry leaves with small white flowers that bloom in spring, often called "mother of thousands" it also does well in a hanging basket in rich well- drained soil in part shade or shade; said to be great for ear infections by using the fresh juice directly into the ear, controls bleeding, removes toxins, controls pain, insect stings, hemorrhoids.

Plant = $4.50

#21520 Scrophularia buergeriana, xuan shen, Scrophulariacea - Perennial with dark green ovate leaves, flowers are purple and bloom in late summer, grow in moist soil in sun or part shade; root are salty and resemble ginseng they are said to be used to nourish the yin, dispels heat, purges fire, removes toxins, cancer, tumors.

Plant = $4.00

#20750 Scutellaria baicalensis, huang qin, Baikal skullcap, Labiatae/Lamiaceae - Low growing perennial that dates back to the Han dynasty (AD25-220); research in China has found that is greatly improves liver function, one of the three yellow herbs, this spreading herb grows to 16" in light, well-drained soil in sun or part shade, can tolerate drought, roots are said to relieve fever, lower blood pressure, stimulate liver, common cold.

Plant = $6.00

Seed = $3.00

#20760 Siegesbeckia sp., xi xian cao, siegesbeckia, Compositae - Collected near Golden Temple in Nanjing; an annual which re-seeds easily, grows to 24" in well-drained soil in sun, leaves are furry green, tinged with red, flowers are yellow and bloom in fall, top blooms secrete a sticky substance; whole plant is said to mainly treat wind- damp-heat, or inflammatory muscle joint pains/conditions, also used to help lower blood pressure.

Plant = $3.25

Seed = $3.00

#21210 Solandra maxima (nitida), cup of gold, Solanaceae - Ethnobotanical plant native to Mexico; clambering tropical vine with glossy leathery leaves and large chalice-shaped flowers starting out pure white then turning yellow with red-purple stripes, blooms in December - February; grow in a tropical greenhouse or Zone 10.

Plant = $12.00

#20810 Solanum aculeatissima, ye dian qie, type of nightshade, Solanaceae - Climbing tree with spine covered leaves make this plant very unusual; a tender perennial, it grows in well-drained soil in sun or part shade, white flowers bloom and form round, green speckled fruit that turn yellow when ripe; whole plant is said to be bitter, neutral, warming and poisonous, it is used for cough with asthma, pain from blockages, wheezing and panting, wind pipe infections, stomach pain and pain from wind-damp, injury and trauma.

Plant = $6.00

Seed = $3.00

#21200 Solanum lyratum, bai ying, Solanaceae - First recorded in Shen nung pen tsao ching, an herbaceous perennial vine with hairy leaves and small blue-purple or white flowers that bloom in summer forming red berries; grow in well drained soil in sun; stems are said to be used to treat convulsions in infants, branches and leaves for clearing away heat and cooling the blood, believed to have anti-cancer properties when decocted with jujube

Plant = $5.00

Seed = $3.00

#21550 Stapelia gigantea, carrion flower, Asclepiadaceae - Succulent from low, hilly, rocky terrain growing in tropical Africa; fleshy stems branch from the bases to form large clumps, star-shaped often fowl smelling flowers bloom in fall and are pollinated by flies, grow under cover minimum 52 degrees in rich sandy soil in sun, likes mid day shade.

Plant = $7.00

 #20790 Talinum paniculatum, tu ren shen, earth ginseng, Portulacaceae - Annual, re-seeds easily, beautiful glossy leaves with tiny magenta flowers that open in the evening and bloom all summer, blooms turn to little red balls; grow in rich soil in sun; roots are said to be sweet and neutral, it strengthens the spleen and lungs, stops cough, regulates menses; used for spleen qi deficiency, tiredness, night sweats and spontaneous day sweats, irregular menses.

Plant = $4.00

Seed = $3.00

#20930 Valeriana officinalis, xie cao, valerian, Valerianaceae - The original seed comes from a collector in Scotland, grows 5' in rich soil in shade or part shade and makes a fine tall plant for woodland gardens, dense clusters of white flowers bloom in early summer; has a long medicinal history, rhizomes, roots and oil are said to be used as a sedative, calms the nerves, relaxes spasms, improves digestion, relieves pain.

Plant = $4.00