Bupleurum, Chinese (Bupleurum chinense, Bei-chai-hu) packet of 50 seeds, organic

Family: Carrot (Apiaceae) Hardy to zones 3 to 10 (Bei-chai-hu, Bupleurum falcatum, Northern Chinese Thorowax, Twigs of the Barbarians)  Herbaceous perennial native to northern and central China, India, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.  Flowers bright yellow to a height of 3 feet.  Traditional Use (TCM):  The sliced, dried roots are one of the Chinese herbs that releases the exterior, having bitter, acrid and cool properties with a rising nature.  The herb cools and harmonizes, usually used in combination to treat ailments of the liver and digestion, malaria and gynecological disorders, headache, tinnitus, fever.  Plant prefers a sunny exposure and does fine in standard garden culture or naturalized in grasslands.  Soak the seeds in warm water for 2 days, frequently changing the water.  Then sow in a cold greenhouse where temperatures oscillate between night and day (40 degrees to 60 degrees is magic).  Germination occurs between 15 and 20 days.  Work up in pots and transplant to the spring garden.  Space plants 6 inches apart. 50 seeds per packet, Certified Organically Grown