Stachys affinis

Plant Characteristics

Habit		bulbous
Height:	⇕	20 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 20.
Width:	⇔	36 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 36.
Lifespan:	⌛	perennial
Bloom:	❀	early summer, mid summer, late summer

Cultivation

Exposure:	☼	sun
Features:	✓	flowers, edible
USDA Zones:		4 to 8
Flower features:	❀	red, pink, white

Scientific Names

Lamiaceae >

Stachys >

affinis >

Stachys affinis, the Chinese artichoke, chorogi, knotroot, artichoke betony, or crosne, is an herbaceous perennial plant of the family Lamiaceae. Although its edible tuber can be grown as a root vegetable, it is a rare sight in the garden. From a cultivation standpoint this is rather odd — the plant is easy to grow, requiring neither staking nor earthing-up. The reason that it is so unpopular is the nature of the tubers — small, convoluted and indented, so that it is the cook rather than the gardener or the family who finds this vegetable frustrating. The thin skin is of whitish-brown or ivory-white. The flesh underneath, under proper cultivation, is white and tender. It is in season generally commencing with October.

The flavor of the tubers is delicate and delicious — they can be treated as Jerusalem artichokes in cooking. It is used as a vegetable, in salad compositions, but more so as a garnish. It has a nutty, artichoke-like flavor.

Cultivation

Gallery

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External links

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