Bai zhi Seed, Angelica dahurica

Angelica dahurica, commonly known as Dahurian angelica, is a widely grown species of angelica native to Siberia, Russia Far East, Mongolia, Northeastern China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. This species tend to grow near river banks, along streams and among rocky shrubs

GROW: To propagate, seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe since the seed only has a short viability. It can also be sown in the spring, though germination rates will be lower. The seedlings should be grown in individual pots in a cold frame for their first winter, then planted into the garden in the spring. As with Archangelica it is biennial.

HARVEST: All parts of the plant are edible. The leaves should be harvested carefully the first year so as not to damage the main stem. The root is harvested in the Autumn of the first year or in the spring of the second year.

USE: For medicinal use, good quality Bai Zhi has large roots that are grey or yellowish brown on the outside with a white, starchy interior. The herb is very aromatic and should have a strong fragrance.