The Verdant HoursHerbal gathering almanac

A world of different seasons

Asia.

Study familiar temperate plants alongside gotu kola, perilla, lemongrass and cultivated tropical herbs. Regional food traditions are context, not permission to substitute related species.

70 profiles in this edition

Asia

Temperate herbs & monsoon gardens

Read the season

Separate temperate spring growth from monsoon and tropical growth cycles. Rainfall, drainage and cultivation affect whether a plant is actively growing.

Before gathering

Verify local names against a scientific name. For wet-ground herbs, identify the plant and assess water quality as separate questions.

Browse this region’s plants

American pokeweedPhytolacca americanaToxic · do not eat American wild mintMentha canadensisStudy first BilberryVaccinium myrtillusCulinary reference BorageBorago officinalisExtra care needed Butterfly peaClitoria ternateaCulinary reference Castor beanRicinus communisToxic · do not eat ChicoryCichorium intybusCulinary reference CleaversGalium aparineStudy first Common chickweedStellaria mediaCulinary reference Common comfreySymphytum officinaleStudy first Common hawthornCrataegus monogynaExtra care needed Common hazelCorylus avellanaCulinary reference Common hopHumulus lupulusStudy first Common juniperJuniperus communisExtra care needed Common mallowMalva sylvestrisCulinary reference Common mulleinVerbascum thapsusStudy first Common purslanePortulaca oleraceaExtra care needed Common sorrelRumex acetosaCulinary reference Common yarrowAchillea millefoliumStudy first Cow parsleyAnthriscus sylvestrisExtra care needed CulantroEryngium foetidumCulinary reference Curly dockRumex crispusExtra care needed DandelionTaraxacum officinaleCulinary reference Deadly nightshadeAtropa bella-donnaToxic · do not eat European yewTaxus baccataToxic · do not eat Field horsetailEquisetum arvenseExtra care needed FireweedChamaenerion angustifoliumCulinary reference Garlic mustardAlliaria petiolataCulinary reference German chamomileMatricaria chamomillaCulinary reference GlasswortSalicornia europaeaCulinary reference Gotu kolaCentella asiaticaCulinary reference Greater burdockArctium lappaExtra care needed Greater plantainPlantago majorCulinary reference Ground ivyGlechoma hederaceaExtra care needed Holy basilOcimum tenuiflorumStudy first Japanese knotweedReynoutria japonicaExtra care needed JimsonweedDatura stramoniumToxic · do not eat Lamb's quartersChenopodium albumCulinary reference LantanaLantana camaraToxic · do not eat LemongrassCymbopogon citratusCulinary reference Lily of the valleyConvallaria majalisToxic · do not eat Lords-and-ladiesArum maculatumToxic · do not eat MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmariaExtra care needed MonkshoodAconitum napellusToxic · do not eat MoringaMoringa oleiferaCulinary reference MugwortArtemisia vulgarisStudy first OleanderNerium oleanderToxic · do not eat PennyroyalMentha pulegiumToxic · do not eat PerillaPerilla frutescensCulinary reference Red cloverTrifolium pratenseStudy first Red raspberryRubus idaeusCulinary reference Ribwort plantainPlantago lanceolataCulinary reference RoselleSabdariffa gossypiifoliaCulinary reference Sea buckthornHippophae rhamnoidesCulinary reference SelfhealPrunella vulgarisStudy first Sheep sorrelRumex acetosellaExtra care needed Shepherd's purseCapsella bursa-pastorisCulinary reference Small-leaved limeTilia cordataCulinary reference Spotted spurgeEuphorbia maculataToxic · do not eat St John's wortHypericum perforatumExtra care needed Stinging nettleUrtica dioicaCulinary reference Sweet woodruffGalium odoratumExtra care needed TamarindTamarindus indicaCulinary reference ValerianValeriana officinalisExtra care needed Water mintMentha aquaticaCulinary reference Water spinachIpomoea aquaticaCulinary reference Wild carrotDaucus carotaExtra care needed Wild oreganoOriganum vulgareCulinary reference Wild strawberryFragaria vescaCulinary reference Yellow wood sorrelOxalis strictaExtra care needed

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These are editorial collections, including native, introduced and cultivated plants. They are not distribution maps or local gathering permissions. Country-level coverage, local names and specialist field review are still expanding. No Antarctic gathering collection is offered.