Sanicula chinensis

Sanicula chinensis belongs to the Apiaceae family. It is a perennial, which means it lives for years. It also bears the common name Bian Dou Cai. Its native range spans the Russian Far East, China and Japan. Kew places it in the temperate biome. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In Japan, it grows in woods on low mountains. In China, it grows on shaded slopes beside roads. It also grows in mixed woods and along stream banks. There, records place it at 656–7,546 feet [200–2,300 metres] above sea level.

The plant reaches about 2 feet [0.6 metres] in height. The supplied records do not state its spread when grown. They give no details of its stems or leaf shape. Plants For A Future lists flowers from May to October. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the flowers. The species is self-fertile: it can set seed with its own pollen. Seeds ripen from June to October. The evidence does not describe this species' flower colour or fruit shape.

Plants For A Future says the plant prefers moist soil. It lists sand, loam and clay as suitable soil types. All these soils must drain well. The listed pH range runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. The plant can grow in sun or partial shade. Suggested garden sites include the edges of woods and dappled shade. These match the woods in its native range. The supplied evidence gives no firm rating for cold hardiness. The source bases its view of British hardiness on the native range. Confirmed trials do not support that view.

Records describe eating the young leaves after cooking. Plants For A Future rates their food use one out of five. This low score comes with a need for care. The leaves contain saponins, which the body does not absorb well. The source says thorough cooking breaks these compounds down. Even so, it warns against eating large amounts of foods rich in saponins. Its hazard note also warns that saponins can harm fish. This food record does not mean raw leaves are safe.

Plants For A Future records no known uses in medicine. It lists no uses beyond those already described. Its entry on weed risk does not flag this species as weedy. The supplied evidence names no pests or diseases for this plant. It gives no guidance on how to grow more of this species. Those notes concern a related species instead.