Bulbifera Laportea (Laportea bulbifera)

Family: Urticaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

Laportea bulbifera is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to December. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Young leaves - cooked. Very nutritious, they are used like spinach. Some caution should be observed when harvesting this plant since the raw leaves have stinging hairs. — Young leaves - cooked.; Very nutritious, they are used like spinach.; Some caution should be observed when harvesting this plant since the raw leaves have stinging hairs.; It is perfectly safe to eat the leaves when they are cooked, however, since heat completely destroys the sting.

Habitat & North American Range

Woods in mountains all over Japan. Forest margins, thickets, roadsides, often partly shady, moist places at elevations of 700 - 3500 metres in China. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)