Prince's Feather (Polygonum orientale)

At a glance

Lifecycle: Annual
Exposure: Full sun

Cultivation

Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil. Plants are not very hardy in Britain but can be grown as a half-hardy annual. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Germination is usually free and easy. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer if they have reached sufficient size. If not, overwinter them in a cold frame and plant them out the following spring after the last expected frosts.

Edible uses

Young shoots - cooked. The young shoots are a standard vegetable in Indo-China. Seed - cooked. The seed is rather small and fiddly to utilize.

Medicinal uses

The plant is a good tonic and vulnerary. The flowers are said to thin the blood, remove obstructions and ease pain. The leafy stems are used in the treatment of hernias. A decoction of the ripe fruits is used in the treatment of hepatitis, sloughing ulcers, tympanites and cancer. The seed is said to relieve flatulence, fevers and thirst, brighten the eyes and benefit the breath.

Habitat

Roadsides, near houses and wastelands, also commonly cultivated in gardens, from sea level to 3000 metres.

Native range

E. Asia - China to the Himalayas.