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Incarvillea sinensis

Common name:		Family:	Bignoniaceae
Author:	Lam.	Botanical references:	200, 266
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	One report suggests that the plant might be slightly toxic[179].
Range:	E. Asia - N. China, Manchuria.
Habitat:	Sandy and rocky places, embankments and old walls from 400 - 2100 metres, often in wind-swept sites[214].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	1	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Chio Hao [E],
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Scrophulariales. Trumpet-creeper family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	China

Physical Characteristics

Annual/Perennial growing to 0.85m. It is hardy to zone 4. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 1/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Cultivated Beds, In Walls, In East Wall, In West Wall.

Edible Uses

Leaves.

Leaves and young shoots - cooked. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails[179]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Skin.

The plant is used to treat skin ailments, spongy gums and ulcers[218].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Easily grown in a deep well-drained sandy but rich soil in full sun[1, 200]. Plants grow better if they are given some shade around midday[200]. Dislikes dry summer soils and winter wet[200].
One report says that this species should be grown in a greenhouse[1] whilst another says that it is hardy to about -15° , tolerating lower temperatures if the roots are well mulched, preferably with dry bracken[200]. The crown of the plant requires protection from slugs in the winter[187].
A very ornamental plant, it usually takes about 1 - 2 years to come into flower from seed[1]. A variable species[214], some forms are perennial whilst others are annual[1]. I. sinensis sinensis is an annual whilst I. sinensis variabilis (Batal.)Grierson is a perennial[200].
Plants are intolerant of root disturbance, it is best to place them in their permanent positions whilst small[200]. The plants will often sulk for several years if they are divided[214].

Propagation

Seed - sow autumn or spring in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse and plant out into their permanent positions in spring after the last expected frosts.
Division with care in early spring or autumn.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Bignoniaceae.

[CHINA] Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[179] Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977
A translation of an ancient Chinese book on edible wild foods. Fascinating.

[187] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[214] Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society 1994 ISBN 1352-4186
A quarterly magazine, it has articles on Himalayacalamus hookerianus, hardy Euphorbias and an excellent article on Hippophae spp.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[266] Flora of China 1994
On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
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This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Incarvillea+sinensis
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