Herb: Asian Madder


Latin name: Rubia akane


Family: Rubiaceae (Madder Family)



Medicinal use of Asian Madder:

The root contains a number of medically active constituents and is antitumour, emmenagogue and haemostatic. It is used in Korea to treat dysmenorrhoea, leukorrhoea and carbuncles.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial Climber


Height:
100 cm
(3 1/4 foot)

Habitat of the herb:

Thickets and hedges in lowland and at low elevations in mountains, C. and S. Japan.

Edible parts of Asian Madder:

Young leaves - boiled. Fruit. No more details are given.

Other uses of the herb:

A red dye is obtained from the plant. The part of the plant that is used is not specified, but it is likely to be the root.

Propagation of Asian Madder:

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed can be very slow to germinate. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for the first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in spring or at any time in the growing season if the divisions are kept well watered until established. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Cultivation of the herb:

Thickets and hedges in lowland and at low elevations in mountains, C. and S. Japan.

Known hazards of Rubia akane:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.