Plants ordered now will begin shipping second week of September. First come first served.
Chrysanthemum, Chinese Gong-ju-hua (Chrysanthemum morifolium) plant in a 4 inch pot, organic
$16.00
Family: Aster (Asteraceae)
Hardy to Zones 5 to 10
(Autumn Chrysanthemum, Huangshan gongju) Evergreen subshrub native to China, an ancient cultigen that cannot be propagated by seed. This is a choice cultivar with small, fall to early winter blossoming flowers of yellow and cream. Strong flavor, taste sweet to slightly bitter, a superior flower for making Chrysanthemum tea. The main harvest of these flowers occurs in my Zone 7 garden around November 15, significantly later than the Bo-ju-hua cultivar. Plant prefers sun and well-drained garden soil, frequent watering. Space plants 2 feet apart.
Plant in a 4-inch pot, Certified Organically Grown
In stock
Question
Margaret FitzGibbon –
I am in zone 5 B would i be picking flowers in the snow possibly.If plant is hardy to zone 5, i don’t mind:)
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Richo Cech –
Hi Margaret, Thanks for writing. The Gong-ju-hua does indeed flower very late in the season. I have picked them after frost with good results. you could, too. Richo
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lazywildswan (verified owner) –
Super hardy plant! I left a pot of them in the field and forgot about the pot over winter. Now it has become huge and healthy all by itself. I like this plant. The deer and woodchucks do NOT eat it. And we have tons of deer. I will harvest all the blooms to dry for tea over the winter.
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Question
Ashley –
Hello, does this variety have the same medicinal properties as Bo-ju-hua?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Ashley, Thanks for writing! Page 208 of “Making Plant Medicine”: Gong-ju-hua …considered a superior type for making the chrysanthemum flower tea. The taste is strong–sweet to slightly bitter. Now is a great time to get into this plant, the small ones soon grow large, and they are on sale right now for another week or so. Richo
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lazywildswan (verified owner) –
Hi Richo! Can I eat some of these leaves? I got a seed packet for the chrysanthemum greens, but I wondered if I could also eat these.
Thanks so much for these plants. They are super healthy and nothing kills them. I just bought more. Hey, we have over 60 acres, so I have room.
Last season, I made the most delicious honey mead with these — the Chinese say that alcohol is supposed to be the best way to use many plants, so I figured I’d give it a try. And I also put some in vodka because I wasn’t sure how they meant to use the alcohol — make it with the flowers, or put it in alcohol. Both ways were fabulous.
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Richo Cech –
Thanks for staying in touch. The chrysanthemum leaves are harmless although not traditionally the part used. Yes, edible chrysanthemum (Shungiku) is the way to go for food-use of chrysanthemum. Yes, you are right about ju-hua and alcohol–considered to be an auspicious combination. Check the “Medicated Wine” recipe on page 207 of “Making Plant Medicine.”
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lazywildswan (verified owner) –
Thanks! And thanks for the heads up on the medicated wine recipe… I will check the edition I have, but I am guessing it’s in the most recent edition. I forgot to order books in today’s order, so I’ll figure out the seeds I need and do another order.
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Richo Cech –
i too am unsure about that. check under “Ju-hua”
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Question
Sierra –
How tall do these plants get , and would they make good cut flowers?
Any other plants that bloom around this time?
Thank you!
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Richo Cech –
hi sierra, they get about waist high. the flowers are distributed on the surface of the plant, not on long stalks like one would want for a cutflower. Our passionflowers are particularly nice this time of year–loaded with blossoms. our datura “moonflower” is also in full display. Our tulsi is in rampant flower. The fragrant aster is of course an awesome late season choice. So, too, the autumn mandrake. Wow, come to think of it, the landscape is loaded with flowers this time of year!
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Question
pyroinsanity13 –
So this cultigen cannot be propagated by seed. Does that mean it cannot produce viable seeds? Or can it produce seeds that grow into a different variety? Or can it produce viable seeds if cross pollinated by another variety?
Thanks
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Richo Cech –
hollo pyro, thanks for your inquiry. the plant is sterile, makes no seeds, and can be propagated only from cuttings. this is standard for chinese chrysanthemum ju-hua, it is no surprise. richo
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pyroinsanity13 –
Some vendors that I don’t know are selling Chrysanthemum morifolium seeds. Is there no such thing?
Is there another similar perenial species of tea mums that grows from seeds?
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Richo Cech –
right, there is no such thing, let the buyer beware
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Question
elephanttree62 –
Hi Richo,
Can Chinese chrysanthemums be grown indoors, or do they need to be outdoors? I live north of Seattle, in Zone 8b. Thanks!
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Richo Cech –
hello el, thanks for writing. I note that these chines chrysanthemums are very cold hardy and bushy, it is not the kind of plant i would recommend for inside growing, they tend to get buggy indoors. Is your aloe collection completely filled out? Because winter is coming and aloes make great indoor companions in the pacific nw. Our aloe offerings just keep getting nicer as the plants flourish and increase. richo
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sdb139 –
This plant is so hardy! I’m in zone 9 and it has doubled in size every year since I got it, and it produces more blooms than I could ever keep up with. It makes the best tea!
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