Chrysanthemum

Dendranthema indicum

Physical Characteristics

Dendranthema indicum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - Eastern China, Central and Southern Japan.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Oil Seed Edible Uses: Oil Tea The flower heads are pickled in vinegar[46, 61, 177, 183]. Young leaves - cooked[105, 177, 183]. An aromatic tea is made from the leaves[183]. Seed[183]. No more details are given but it is very small and would be rather fiddly to use.

Medicinal Uses

Antiphlogistic Aperient Bitter Blood tonic Depurative Eczema Febrifuge Ophthalmic Stomachic VD Vulnerary The whole plant is antiphlogistic, blood tonic, depurative, febrifuge and vulnerary[147, 174, 178]. The plant is used in China to treat eye ailments[218]. In conjunction with black pepper it is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[240]. The leaves are depurative[240]. They are used in China in the treatment of migraine[240]. The flowers are aperient, bitter, hypotensive, stomachic and vasodilator[176, 240]. They contain the glycoside chrysanthemin that yields glucose and cyanidin on hydrolysis, together with stachydrine and an essential oil[283]. They have an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus, E. coli, streptococcus, C. diphtheriae, Bacillus dysenteriae[176]. The flowers are used in the treatment of furuncle, scrofula, deep-rooted boils, inflammation of the throat, eyes and cervix, eczema, itchiness of the skin and hypertension[176]. They have a rejuvenating effect when used over a long period of time[283]. An essential oil obtained from the plant contains chrysanthenone, this is active on the brain centre affected by Parkinson's disease[240].

Known Hazards

None known