skip to main content

I.D. for chinese herb please

17 years ago

I bought a plant this morning at the flea market. There was a bit of a communications problem so they wrote the plant down as "Cha Poo" a chinese herb or plant using in cooking. It has a somewhat vining appearance with beautiful shiny ridged leaves. The older leaves are heart shaped. It has two tiny little 1/2 nubby things, but they are not flowers and they are white. The largest leaves are about 3" long x 3" Anyone? I try to post a pic later. Thanks, Pat

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

andy_sa
17 years ago
Cha Hu? Bupleurun falcatum (syn.chinense) - common name Hare's Ear? That's the closest name I could find in my Chinese herb book.
ltcollins1949
17 years ago
It sounds like Cha Plu Piper sarmentosum. I've been growing it in my greenhouse, and it is doing great. In fact, I've taken a bunch of cuttings for an upcoming Master Gardener plant sale. If you check out the site I provided, it will tell you how to use it in cooking.
Related Discussions
Please i.d. my plant
Q
Comments (5)
Hard to say, can you elaborate on the description pls? Are the leaves thin or thick to the touch? From yr. desctiption of the stem, if it's not a Diff. as suggested above, pls. check if it's Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen). Pls. do a search (then isolate the search to Images) to see if the pix match yr. plant. Yellowing leaves can be signs of BOTH underwatering or overwatering, more likely that than lack of light. It's hard so say more or give further advice w/out knowing exactly what plant you've got.
...See More
I'd like to know more about Chinese Kale.
Q
Comments (3)
fliptx, If you love broccoli, you will absolutely love gai lan. Its heads are insignificant. It is grown for the stems, which are about pencil thick or a little more. When steamed and dressed with a little oyster sauce, they are brilliant green, tender and very tasty. They look especially nice when presented by stacking them like a pile of logs, then cutting the pile at two inch intervals. Jim
...See More
I.D. please
Q
Comments (2)
Does not look like Fatalii to me. Not elongated enough. Fataliis ripen to yellow too (there is a red strain). It's almost impossible to identify a C. Chinese by shape alone. 100s of varieties. Chris
...See More
Herb i.d. (no photo) used in Chinese food?
Q
Comments (6)
Rue (Ruta graveolens)has smallish yellow flowers and blue green leaves. it grows 2' or so. The form "Jackman's Blue" is on of the hardiest and prettiest. Many people are allergic to rue. It is often sold as an insect repellant in nurseries and is said to repel cats??! People who rub it on their skin tend to come up in nasty red welts. In medieval times rue was said to be a herb good for the sight. It seems little used now in western medicine or quisine. I too would be interested in how it is used in Asian cooking. Michael Bailes
...See More
zozzl
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you both very much. It is Cha Plu Piper sarmentosum and I am glad to hear it. I thought it was cinnamon vine and I was going to get rid of it. Would love to know how to use it in cooking. Thank you. Pat

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES 9 Fresh Herbs for Crowd-Pleasing Thanksgiving Dishes

Pluck these herbs from a windowsill pot or a garden for a Thanksgiving meal that sings with fresh flavor

SUMMER GARDENING Houzz Call: Please Show Us Your Summer Garden!

By Annie Thornton

Share pictures of your home and yard this summer — we’d love to feature them in an upcoming story

GARDENING GUIDES Herb Garden Essentials: Versatile Cilantro Adds Flavor to Herb Gardens

By Marianne Lipanovich

Love it or hate it, this cool-season herb contributes its unique flavor to any number or the world’s cuisines

FURNITURE Chinese Altar Tables Set a Soulful Tone at Home

By Apartment 46 for the Home

Antique or contemporary altar tables add a touch of the unexpected when used as a console, sofa table, vanity or buffet

GARDENING GUIDES Pathway Plantings That Please the Senses

By LuAnn Brandsen

Add some color, life and intrigue beside your sidewalk with these 7 suggestions

HERBS Herb Garden Essentials: How to Grow Chives

By Marianne Lipanovich

This decorative and delicately flavored herb from the onion family is easy to grow indoors and out

EDIBLE GARDENS 12 Essential Herbs for Your Edible Garden

By Annie Thornton

Make home cooking and drinks even better with herbs plucked from your own backyard or windowsill pot

GARDENING GUIDES 4 Herb Container Gardens for Fabulous Global Cuisine

Tingle your taste buds with the unbeatable taste of fresh herbs in your Italian, Asian, Mexican or French fare

FLOWERS Herb Garden Essentials: Grow Your Own Fragrant Lavender

By Marianne Lipanovich

This do-it-all plant is ideal for almost any garden, and its uses are abundant around the home

GARDENING GUIDES Herb Garden Essentials: Grow Your Own Delicious Mint

By Marianne Lipanovich

Pull out a pot for this one. Mint's spreading habit and hard-to-kill nature can be a blessing — if you're properly prepared

Sponsored

More Discussions

list the problems with my pineapple sage

6

Mystery herb / plant

14

Cistus Incanus and Hormones

0

Herb Marigold 'Dropshot', a nice texture in the landscape.

21

Perennial Rosemary in zone 7a?

10