Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan) is a herbaceous climbing vine that is native to eastern Asia and is a key ingredient with Chinese traditional medicine. Jiaogulan thrives in moist, warm climates when positioned to receive filtered sunlight. It makes a sweet herbal tea that is said to help with blood circulation and maintaining blood sugar levels.
Suitable for Sub-Tropical and Tropical climates.
Gynostemma pentaphyllum is part of the cucumber family and although it is known in China as Jiaogulan, it has been given numerous common names from around the world. The most famous being the Immortality Herb but also includes Sweet Tea Vine, Miracle Grass, Fairy Herb, Gospel Herb, Five Leaf Ginseng and Poor Man’s Ginseng.
Jiaogulan’s native range includes southern China, Japan, Korea, India, Bangladesh and as far south as New Guinea. Plants do not tolerate cold temperatures, frost or drought.
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Growth
Gynostemma pentaphyllum is a short lived perennial vine that grows to 8 metres (26 feet) and around 3 metres (10 feet) wide. Jiaogulan can be grown as an annual in most temperate climates if the soil drains well and the plants are protected from late frosts or low temperatures.
The ideal location is warm, with high rainfall, good soil drainage and shaded from hot Summer days. In tropical climates, Jiaogulan will live through a second or even third Spring.
As the species is dioecious and isn’t self-fertile, a male and female plant must be grown near each other in order to pollinate, flower and produce seeds.
Note: Germination instructions can be found in the ‘Germination Instructions Tab’ below. Upon purchase you will receive these detailed instructions via email so that you have a permanent record.
FAMILY:
Cucurbitaceae
CLIMATE:
Temperate to Tropical
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
10-30°C / 50-86°F
SOIL TYPE:
Well-draining.
LOCATION:
Part-Shade
HEIGHT:
Up to 8m (26 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 3m (10 feet)
pH:
6.0-7.0
GROWTH TYPE:
Annual or Perennial.
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Medium
POLLINATION:
Insects
MATURITY:
90 days
GERMINATION RATES:
70-85%
GERMINATION TIME:
2-6 weeks at temperatures between 20-25°C / 68-77°F
GERMINATION DIFFICULTY:
Medium
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 200
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
Yes
WEED POTENTIAL:
Yes.
EDIBLE:
Yes.
SEED STORAGE & VIABILITY:
Cold Storage at 4°C (Fridge) up to 3 years.
FACTS ABOUT GYNOSTEMMA PENTAPHYLLUM (Jiaogulan)
In the wild, Gynostemma pentaphyllum grows well in dense forests, mountain slopes and tolerates a wild range of elevation, some specimens found up to 3,200 metres ( 10,500 feet) high.
The plant was first described in 1406 CE in the book Materia Medica for Famine by Zhu Xiao who described Jiaogulan as a survival food rather than a herb. Traditionally, it wasn’t used as a medicinal herb until the early 21st century. Since then, some limited studies have been performed to assess the vine’s potential for treating heart diseases and diabetes.
In a 1991 Beijing conference on traditional medicines, Jiaogulan was rated among the ten most important tonic herbs. Perhaps due to some claims the herb can assist with nervous tension, relieving spasms, asthma, bronchitis and contains some sedative effects.
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