The Jiaogulan plant also goes by names such as lady's ginseng and five-leaf ginseng. This gives an idea of how he althy this plant is for us humans. However, the focus of all reports is only on the green leaves. What about their black, spherical berries? They look inviting, but are they also edible?
Autumn is berry time
Jiaogulan produces fruits that are in the shape of small berries. Before that, however, the flowering period is upon us. Since the immortality herb only blooms in midsummer in the months of July and August, the first berries can only be expected in late summer or autumn.
- Berries are initially dark green
- when ripe they are completely black
- they are small and round as a ball
- the diameter is approx. 8 mm
Since the small flowers of the Jiaogulan appear on long panicles, the berries also grow into several specimens in a kind of cluster.
Suitability for consumption
Is a plant whose leaves are so he althy even capable of producing poisonous fruit? At least the immortality herb can't do that. You can eat its little berries, that's for sure. However, do not expect any he alth benefits or a rejuvenating effect from this. The berries don't play a role in medicine, there are reasons for that.
Nothing can be found in reports in this country about the taste of these berries. The author of this text has not yet tried it personally. Maybe their aroma is similar to licorice like that of the leaves. Your own taste test is certainly the most informative here.
Tip
In autumn, cut off the still green tendrils and then dry the leaves. Of the conditionally hardy immortality herb, only the rhizome overwinters outside anyway.
At least two plants are necessary
If you are now wondering which berries we are talking about, the following lines can provide the answer. It is neither an unsuitable location nor inadequate care to blame if no berries appear on a fully grown Jiaogulan plant.
In order for flowers to form into berries, they must first be fertilized. Two plants are absolutely necessary for this: one male and one female. As a dioecious plant, an immortality herb can only bear either female or male flowers. So if you only have one plant at home, it will bloom but not produce any berries.
