Elatostema umbellatum – Dents de Kyoto pack of 10 bulbils

Description

Elatostema umbellatum – Dents de Kyoto is a non stinging member of the Urticaceae family and is eaten as a wild vegetable in Japan. Its name Dents de Kyoto comes from the fact that the leaves have more pronounced ‘teeth’ than its relatives. It is a hardy herbaceous perennial and  grows best in most soil in full or part shade and will slowly make a groundcover by dropping small bulbils on the ground where they will sprout to form new plants. The bulbils develop following on from small white flowers at the leaf axils.  As the plants die back in winter, the purple bulbils are the part that remain and these will naturally root themselves or you can collect some and pot them up and watch them sprout again in spring. Height 20 to 30 cm. Moist but well-drained, humus rich soil in part to full shade. A lovely edible and ornamental plant. Very useful in a forest garden setting or a damp shady part of your garden.

Price is for 5 moist bulbils approx 3-5mm in diameter – you will need to pot these up right away. They will naturally germinate in the spring and each bulbil will sprout and you will see a tiny leaf emerging. Once the seedlings are large enough, pot them on and then transplant out once they are robust. You should get 10 plants from this pack of 10 bulbils.