Family:  Grass (Poaceae)

Perennial, hardy to zone 9 to 12, otherwise grown as an annual, 120 to 140 days to harvest

(Yi-yi-ren, Chi Shih, Chieh Li, Djali Batoe) Ornamental, tufted perennial grass from Southeast Asia. Water loving.  Excellent in potted culture.  The hard seeds are naturally pre-drilled, used as beads to make bracelets, necklaces and rosaries.  We grow Job’s Tears in our greenhouses and it makes graceful clumps about 3 feet high.  Its quite pretty and the seeds are a tasty raw chew.  Also used for making flour and tea.  Plant prefers full sun to part shade and grows well in shallow water or in fast-draining or sodden soil.  Sow seed 1/2 inch deep and keep evenly moist and warm until germination, which takes 1 to 6 weeks.  Individuate to pots or space plants 1 foot apart.

5  Seeds/pkt, Open Pollinated, Untreated, NO GMO’s