The Medicinal Herb Gallery is a collection of photographs of Chinese herb plants with Chinese, botanical and common names, major medicinal actions, part of plant used in Chinese medicine, and comments on cultivation and harvesting. Multiple photos of herbs reflect seasonal variations, specific plant parts for identification, and acceptable species variants for medicinal use.
The gallery photos are from out own personal collection and from other public domain sources. We welcome the addition of other digital photos of Chinese herb plants of correct medicinal species. Please contact us at info@jadeinstitute.com if you have any that you would like to share, or if you would like to reproduce these photos elsewhere.
The information listed for each herb comes from personal experience, and the following resources:
A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, American Horticultural Society, 2004, DK Publishing
Colored Atlas Compendium of Materia Medica, Liansheng Shen, 1998, Huaxia Publishing House
Herbal Emissaries: Bringing Chinese Herbs to the West, Steven Foster, 1992, Healing Arts Press
Medicinal Plants in China, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine,1997, WHO
Plants for a Future: Edible and Useful Plants, Ken Fern, 1997, Permanent Publications
| Chinese Name (pinyin) |
Common Name |
Botanical Name |
| Ai Ye |
Mugwort leaf, Artemesia |
Artemesia argyi |
| Ba Yue Zha |
Akebia fruit |
Akebia trifoliata |
| Bai Bu |
Stemona root |
Stemona sessilifolia |
| Bai Guo |
Ginkgo nut, Maidenhair tree |
Ginkgo biloba |
| Bai He |
Lily bulb |
Lilium lancifolium |
| Bai Ji |
Bletilla rhizome |
Bletilla striata |
| Bai Ji Li |
Tribulus, Puncture-vine fruit |
Tribulus terrestris |
| Bai Mao Gen |
Imperata rhizome, Woolley grass |
Imperata cylindrica |
| Bai Shao |
White peony root |
Paeonia lactiflora |
| Bai Zhi |
Angelica root |
Angelica dahurica |
| Ban Lan Gen |
Isatis root, Woad root |
Isatis indigotica |
| Ban Xia |
Pinellia rhizome |
Pinellia ternata |
| Ban Zhi Lian |
Barbat scullcap, Bearded scutellaria |
Scutellaria barbata |
| Bei Sha Shen |
Glehnia root |
Glehnia littoralis |
| Bie Jia |
Chinese soft-shelled turtle |
Trionyx sinensis |
| Bing Lang |
Areca, Betal nut |
Areca catechu |
| Bo He |
Mentha, Field mint |
Mentha haplocalyx |
| Cang Er Zi |
Xanthium fruit, Cockelburr fruit |
Xanthium sibiricum |
| Ce Bai Ye |
Arborvitae, Chinese arborvitae biota |
Platycladus orientalis |
| Cha Ye |
Tea leaf |
Camillia sinensis |
| Chan Tui |
Cicada moulting |
Cryptotympana pustulata |
| Che Qian Zi |
Plantago seed |
Plantago asiatica |
| Chen Xiang |
Aquilaria wood, Aloeswood |
Aquilaria sinensis |
| Chong Wei Zi |
Leonuras fruit |
Leonurus heterophyllus |
| Chuan Bei Mu |
Sichuan fritillaria bulb |
Fritillaria chirrhosa |
| Ci Wu Jia |
Siberian ginseng, Eleuthero |
Eutherococcus sentincosus |
| Cong Bai |
Scallion, Spring onion |
Allium fistulosum |
| Da Huang |
Rhubarb root and rhizome |
Rheum officinale |
| Da Qing Ye |
Isatis leaf, Woad leaf |
Isatis indigotica |
| Da Zao |
Jujube, Chinese date |
Ziziphus jujuba |
| Dan Dou Chi |
Prepared soybean |
Glycine max |
| Dan Nan Xing |
Arisaema rhizome prepared, Jack-in-the-pulpit |
Arisaema amurense |
| Dan Shen |
Salvia root, Red sage |
Salvia miltiorrhiza |
| Dang Gui |
Angelica root (Chinese) |
Angelica sinensis |
| Dang Shen |
Codonopsis root, Bonnet bellflower |
Codonopsis pilosula |
| Di Gu Pi |
Lycium bark, Wolfberry root cortex, Matrimony vine |
Lycium barbarum |
| Di Yu |
Sanguisorba, Burnet-bloodwort root |
Sanguisorba officinalis |
| Dong Chong Xia Cao |
Cordyceps, Chinese caterpillar fungus |
Cordyceps sinensis |
| Dong Gua Pi |
Wintermelon rind, Wax gourd rind |
Benincasa hispida |
| Dong Gua Ren |
Wintermelon seed, Wax gourd seed |
Benincasa hispida |
| Dong Kui Zi |
Mallow seed, Cluster mallow seed |
Mallow verticilata |
| Du Huo |
Pubescent angelica root |
Angelica pubescens |
| Du Zhong |
Eucommia bark |
Eucommia ulmoides |
| E Jiao |
Donkey-hide gelatin, Ass-hide glue |
Equus asinus |
| Fo Shou |
Finger citron fruit, Buddha's hand |
Citrus medica sarcodactylis |
| Fu Ping |
Spirodela, Duckweed |
Spirodela polyrrhiza |
| Fu Zi |
Aconite root, Monkshood |
Aconitum carmichaeli |
| Ge Gen |
Kudzu root, Pueraria |
Pueraria lobata |
| Ge Jie |
Gecko |
Gekko gecko |
| Gou Qi Zi |
Lycium fruit, Chinese wolfberry, Matrimony vine |
Lycium barbarum |
| Gua Lou |
Trichosanthes fruit, Chinese cucumber, Snakegourd |
Trichosanthes kirilowii |
| Gua Lou Pi |
Trichosanthes fruit peel, Chinese cucumber, Snakegourd |
Trichosanthes kirilowii |
| Gua Lou Ren |
Trichosanthes seed, Chinese cucumber |
Trichosanthes kirilowii |
| Gui Ban |
Fresh water turtle, Testudinis |
Chinemys reevesii |
| He Huan Hua |
Silk tree flower, Albizia flower, Mimosa |
Albizia julibrissin |
| He Huan Pi |
Silk tree bark, Albizia bark, Mimosa |
Albizia julibrissin |
| He Shou Wu |
Fleeceflower root, Knotweed root, Fo-ti |
Polygonum multiflorum |
| He Ye |
Lotus leaf |
Nelumbo nucifera |
| Hei Zhi Ma |
Black sesame seed |
Sesamum indicum |
| Hong Hua |
Safflower, Carthamus |
Carthamus tinctorius |
| Hu Tao Ren |
Walnut |
Juglans regia |
| Hua Shi |
Talcum |
Talc |
| Huai Jiao |
Sophora fruit, Pagoda tree fruit |
Sophora japonica |
| Huai Mi |
Sophora flower bud, Pagoda tree bud |
Sophora japonica |
| Huang Bai |
Pehllodendron bark, Amur cork tree bark |
Phellodendron amurense |
| Huang Qi |
Astragalus, Milk-vetch root |
Astragalus membranaceus |
| Huang Qin |
Scute, Scutellaria, Baical skullcap root |
Scutellaria baicalensis |
| Huo Xiang |
Agastache, Korean mint |
Agastache rugosa |
| Ji Guan Hua |
Cockscomb flower |
Celosiae cristata |
| Jiao Gu Lan |
Gynostemma, Sweet tea vine |
Gynostemma phentaphyllum |
| Jie Geng |
Platycodon, Balloon flower |
Platycodon grandiflorus |
| Jin Yin Hua |
Honeysuckle flower, Lonicera |
Lonicera japonica |
| Ju Hua |
Chrysanthemum flower |
Chrysanthemum multiflorum |
| Jue Ming Zi |
Cassia seeds, Sicklepod |
Cassia obtusifolia |
| Li Zhi He |
Lychee nut |
Litchi chinensis |
| Lian Qiao |
Forsythia fruit |
Forsythia suspensa |
| Lian Xu |
Lotus stamen |
Nelumbo nucifera |
| Lian Zi |
Lotus seed |
Nelumbo nucifera |
| Lian Zi Xin |
Lotus plumule |
Nelumbo nucifera |
| Long Yan Rou |
Longan fruit |
Dimocarpus longan |
| Lu Jiao |
Deer antler |
Cervus elaphus |
| Ma Huang |
Ephedra |
Ephedra intermedia |
| Mai Men Dong |
Ophiopogon tuber, Mondo grass |
Ophiopogon japonicus |
| Man Jing Zi |
Vitex fruit |
Vitex trifolia |
| Mei Gui Hua |
Wild rose |
Rosa rugosa |
| Mu Dan Pi |
Moutan, Tree peony |
Paeonia suffruticosa |
| Mu Li |
Oyster shell |
Ostrea gigus |
| Mu Tong |
Akebia vine |
Akebia trifoliata |
| Niu Xi |
Achyranthis root |
Achyranthis bidentata |
| Nu Zhen Zi |
Ligustrum, Chinese privet |
Ligustrum lucidum |
| Pei Lan |
Eupatorium |
Eupatorium fortunei |
| Pi Pa Ye |
Loquat leaf, Eriobotrya |
Eriobotrya japonica |
| Pu Gong Ying |
Dandelion |
Taraxacum sinicum |
| Pu Huang |
Cattail pollen, Typha pollen, Bulrush |
Typha angustifolia |
| Qian Shi |
Euryale seed, Fox nut |
Euryale ferox |
| Qing Hao |
Sweet wormwood, Sweet annie |
Artemisia annua |
| Qu Mai |
Dianthus, Fringed pink |
Dianthus superbus |
| Ren Dong Teng |
Honeysuckle vine, Lonicera vine |
Lonicera japonica |
| Ren Shen |
Ginseng root |
Panax ginseng |
| Sang Bai Pi |
Mulberry root bark, Morus bark |
Morus alba |
| Sang Shen |
Mulberry, Morus fruit |
Morus alba |
| Sang Ye |
White mulberry leaf |
Morus alba |
| Sang Zhi |
Mulberry twig, Morus twig |
Morus alba |
| Sha Ji |
Sea buckthorn fruit, Swallow thorn |
Hippophae rhamnoides |
| Shan Yao |
Dioscorea, Chinese yam |
Dioscorea batata |
| Shan Zha |
Crataegus fruit, Hawthorne fruit, Chinese haw |
Crataegus pinnatifida |
| She Gan |
Belamcanda rhizome |
Belamcanda chinensis |
| Sheng Di Huang |
Rehmania root, Chinese foxglove |
Rehmannia glutinosa |
| Sheng Jiang |
Ginger |
Zingiberis officinale |
| Sheng Ma |
Cimicifuga, Bugbane, Blach Cohioh |
Cimicifuga heracleifolia |
| Shi Di |
Persimmon calyx, Kaki |
Diospyros kaki |
| Shi Hu |
Dendrobium |
Dendrobium nobile |
| Shu Di Huang |
Prepared rehmannia root |
Rehmannia glutinosa |
| Si Gua Lou |
Luffa, Loofah, Smooth luffa |
Luffa cylindrica |
| Song Jie |
Chinese red pine |
Pinus tabulaeformis |
| Su Zi |
Perilla fruit |
Perilla frutesens |
| Tao Ren |
Peach kernal, Persica |
Prunus persica |
| Tian Hua Fen |
Trichosanthes root, Chinese cucumber, Snakegourd |
Trichosanthes kirilowii |
| Tian Nan Xing |
Arisaema rhizome, Jack-in-the-pulpit |
Arisaema amurense |
| Tu Si Zi |
Cuscuta, Chinese dodder seeds |
Cuscuta chinensis |
| Wu Wei Zi |
Schisandra fruit |
Schisandra chinensis |
| Xi He Liu |
Tamarisk |
Tamarix chinensis |
| Xi Yang Shen |
American ginseng root |
Panax quinquefolium |
| Xian He Cao |
Agrimony |
Agrimonia pilosa |
| Xiang Fu |
Cyperus, Nut-grass, Purple nutsedge |
Cyperus rotundus |
| Xiao Hui Xiang |
Fennel seed |
Foeniculum vulgaris |
| Xin Yi Hua |
Magnolia flower, Lily tree |
Magnolia denudata |
| Xu Duan |
Dipsacus, Japanese teasel root |
Dipsacus, asperoides |
| Xuan Fu Hua |
Inula flower |
Inula japonica |
| Xuan Shen |
Scrofularia, Ningpo figwort root |
Scrofularia ningpoensis |
| Yan Hu Suo |
Corydalis rhizome |
Corydalis yanhusuo |
| Ye Jiao Teng |
Fleeceflower caulis |
Polygonum multiflorum |
| Ye Ju Hua |
Wild chrysanthemum flower |
Chrysanthemum indicum |
| Yi Mu Cao |
Motherwort (Chinese) |
Leonurus artemisia |
| Yi Yi Ren |
Coix, Job's tears |
Coix lacryma-jobi |
| Yin Er |
Tremella fruiting body, Wood ear |
Tremella fuciformis |
| Yin Yang Huo |
Epimedium, Barrenwort |
Epimedium grandiflorum |
| Yu Zhu |
Polygonatum, Fragrant Solomon's seal rhizome |
Polygonatum odoratum |
| Zao Jiao Ci |
Gleditisia thorn |
Gleditsia sinensis |
| Ze Lan |
Lycopos, Bugleweed |
Lycopus lucidus |
| Ze Xie |
Alisma rhizome, Water plantain |
Alisma orientalis |
| Zhe Bei Mu |
Fritillaria bulb, Thunberg fritillaria |
Fritillaria thunbergii |
| Zhi Shi |
Unripe bitter orange |
Citrus aurantium |
| Zhi Zi |
Gardenia fruit, Cape jasmine fruit |
Gardenia jasminoides |
| Zhu Ling |
Polyporus |
Polyporus umbellatus |
| Zhu Ru |
Bamboo shavings |
Bambusa tuldoides |
| Zi Cao |
Lithospermum, Groomwell root |
Lithospermum erythrorhizon |
| Zi Su Ye |
Perilla leaf, Shiso |
Perilla frutesens |
| Zi Wan |
Aster root, Purple aster, Tatarian aster |
Aster tartaricus |
