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Japanese Honewort Cryptotaenia japonica

Phonetic Spelling
krip-toh-TY-nee-ah jah-PON-ih-kah
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Mitsuba or Japanese Parsley is a common ingredient in Japanese food preparation, similar to our use of common parsley. The common name, Mitsuba, is Japanese for trefoil or three-leaf, referring to its foliage.  Dating back to the 17th century, it is often harvested from the wild as well as a cultivated vegetable.  Easily cultivated by seed, its use as spread worldwide.  Its native territory includes woodland and mountainous locations.

A perennial with thick roots, the leaves grow straight from the root base.  It will take on an upright habit when grown in the shade and more horizontal when grown in the sun.  When grown in full sun, the leaves tend to yellow, and it can take on a more bitter taste.  The leaves have a clasping base, long stalk, and 3-toothed leaflets, those near the flowers undivided.  The flowers are star-shaped, small, white, and in umbrella-shaped clusters.  While the leaf stem will only reach heights of approximately 6", the flower stem can grow to over 3' in height.  

The location of the plant dictates its life cycle.  Typically grown as an annual, it depends on climate and conditions to make that determination.

It is capable of growing multiple new segments of leaves and rosettes from one root base.  These segments can produce their own roots.  Once flowering is done and the seeds mature, the mother rosette of leaves and flower stalks will die.  The new segments will then flourish until they too go through the same process.  It is considered a short-lived plant, as the original plant will die soon after flowering.  However, a clump can live on for years.

Easily propagated by division, it can also be reproduced from its seeds.   

Roots can be cooked and eaten as a starchy vegetable.  Leaves can be used as salad greens.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Snails and slugs visit this plant.  When grown in greenhouse settings, white flies and gray mold have been issues.

Individuals that have allergic reactions to parsley, celery, parsnip and other plants from the Apiaceae family should use caution when considering consuming this plant.  Consuming large quantities can be toxic, as well as issues with dermatitis with plant contact.  

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#disease resistant#ncemgva2018#frost tolerant#self-seeding#vegetable#edible leaves#heat intolerant#self-fertile#edible#herb#insect resistant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#disease resistant#ncemgva2018#frost tolerant#self-seeding#vegetable#edible leaves#heat intolerant#self-fertile#edible#herb#insect resistant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Cryptotaenia
    Species:
    japonica
    Family:
    Apiaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Edible leaves and flowers
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Biennial
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Vietnam to Sakhalin and Temp. Eastern Asia
    Play Value:
    Easy to Grow
    Edibility:
    Cooked, starchy root or salad greens
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Vegetable
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Prostrate
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small, white, and in umbrella-shaped clusters
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Clasping base, long stalk, and 3-toothed leaflets, those near flowers undivided
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Small Space
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Diseases
    Insect Pests
    Problems:
    Contact Dermatitis
    Poisonous to Humans
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. Severe skin irritation following repeated contact.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Unidentified
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Leaves