Chrysanthemum Greens

Chrysanthemum Greens

　　Chrysanthemum Greens

　　Chrysanthemum greens is one of the traditional specialty vegetables of Jiangsu Province. Also known as "chrysanthemum leaves," it is a perennial herbaceous vegetable with a fleshy root system that can also be grown as an annual. It gets its name from its resemblance to wild chrysanthemum. In Jiangsu, chrysanthemum greens have been cultivated and consumed as a vegetable by locals for over 100 years.

　　Legend has it that in the third year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1864 AD), when Zeng Guofan led Qing troops to suppress the Taiping Rebellion, Nanjing (then called Tianjing) was under siege and food supplies were nearly exhausted. Residents searched for wild vegetables to stave off hunger and discovered that the tender stems and leaves of chrysanthemum greens had a fragrant and delicious taste. They later began cultivating it.

　　Chrysanthemum greens grow to a height of 30 to 60 centimeters. The stems are green and smooth, and the leaves are ovate with pinnate notches. The flowers are small and yellow. The plant is cold-resistant, heat-tolerant, highly adaptable, easy to cultivate, and grows quickly. It can be planted in corners, along walls, or in front of and behind houses. It suffers from few pests or diseases—even if white spots (rust disease) appear on the leaves, they do not affect yield. Sprinkling wood ash can help suppress the issue. It also boasts high yields and a long market supply period.

　　Sprinkling wood ash can help suppress the issue. It also boasts high yields and a long market supply period.