Heracleum candicans W/O-9131
25 seeds per packet.
The seeds we offer have been harvested from plants grown by us from seed collected from Jiajinshan, Xiaojin, Sichuan, China by August Wu and Bjørnar Olsen. This came to us as an unknown Heracleum species which we have been able to identity as Heracleum candicans, an endangered, aromatic and highly valued Himalayan medicinal herb. Produces attractive and large, divided leaves that have a silvery-white pubescence underneath and large umbels of white flowers held on tall, pubescent stems in June to September. Plants are highly variable in flower and leaf shape. Fantastic plant for bees and other insects. Height 1.4 to 2 metres. Moisture retentive soil in sun to part shade.
PLEASE NOTE: the sap from this plant can cause skin irritation in some people. If you are sensitive we advise wearing gloves and protective clothing when handling this plant.
GROWING INSTRUCTIONS:
Sow upon receipt (best in autumn). Cover seed thinly, press in gently and keep top of compost from drying out. Keep pot outdoors or in cold frame over winter. Seeds germinate in spring.
Alternatively, if seeds can’t be sown in autumn use the following method: mix seeds with damp vermiculite and place inside a ziplock bag, keep bag somewhere warm for 3 weeks, then place in fridge (not freezer) for 8 weeks. Next spread mixture on top of a pot, thinly cover with compost or grit and keep warm at 15 to 20°C until germination, then move to somewhere cooler.
Carefully prick out seedlings when they have developed true leaves and are large enough to transplant to individual pots for growing on.