Wild Japanese Parsley SEEDS,(Cryptotaenia japonica var. atropurpurea)

Dark-leaved Mitsuba - Cryptotaenia japonica var. atropurpurea

Garden Uses

Culinary herb for herb gardens. Purple foliage has good ornamental value for rock gardens, borders or shady areas of the landscape. Containers.

Although perennial, this plant is often grown from seed as an annual for culinary and/or ornamental use.

Wickedly handsome is how one might describe the wonderful and ornamental foliage of this plant - entirely dark purple or bronze-red, the large leaves are divided into three, bold, wide leaflets, each up to three inches in length. A fine plant for giving contrast to the colours of your bedding plants or growing in groups in the herbaceous border. Don't worry about the flowers: they are not wickedly exciting - just a few, small white umbels. 2ft (60cm).

 Cryptotaenia japonica, commonly called Japanese parsley, Japanese honeywort or mitsuba, is an herbaceous perennial with foliage that somewhat resembles a flat-leaved parsley. It is native to moist woodland areas and ditches in eastern Asia. Branching stems of ternate compound leaves (mitsuba means three leaves in Japanese) with serrated ovate segments (each to 2-4" long) typically grow in an upright clump to 12-18" tall and as wide. Small white flowers in umbels bloom in summer on stems rising about 6" above the foliage. Seeds ripen in August-September. Plants are frequently used as culinary herbs in Asian cuisine. Leaves and stems are considered to have a parsley/celery-like flavor and may be added to soups, salads or other hot/cold dishes as a flavoring and/or garnish. Roots can be blanched and sauteed.

GROWING INFORMATION

Pre-cultivated indoors in Feb-Mar or sown outdoors in pots or outdoors May-Sep. The seeds are covered with a thin layer of perlite. Planted after softening when the risk of frost is over. Thrives best in shady growing conditions. The leaves can be harvested gradually throughout the summer

 These perennial seeds germinate very irregularly over a long period. Lower temperatures of less than +5°C [41°F] are very effective. Seed trays should not be discarded prematurely. Constant moisture must be maintained. Do not leave in direct sunlight. For Alstroemeria we recommend to keep sowing for 3 weeks at approximately +30°C [86°F], then 3 weeks at +5°C [41°F], then at +21°C [70°F].

Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade. Thrives in moist, rich soils. Tolerates close to full shade. Foliage may burn in full sun. May aggressively self-sow in the garden to form colonies. Sheer off flower stems after bloom to avoid unwanted seeding.