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Chinese Herb Gallery

The Chinese Herb Gallery is a collection of information and photographs of herbs used in Chinese medicine with their major medicinal actions and comments on cultivation and harvesting. Multiple photos of each herb reflect their dried and prepared forms for use in Chinese medicine, their plant forms with seasonal variations, specific plant parts for identification, and acceptable species variants for clinical use.

The gallery photos are taken from our own personal collection and from other public domain sources. Please contact us at info@jadeinstitute.com if you have photos to share, or if you would like to reproduce our photos elsewhere.

Plant information comes from our personal experience, the internet, and the following excellent resources:

A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, American Horticultural Society, 2004, DK Publishing
Chinese Herbal Materia Medica, Bensky, Clavey, and Stoger, 2008, Eastland Press
Colored Atlas Compendium of Materia Medica, Liansheng Shen, 1998, Huaxia Publishing House
Food Plants of China, Shiu-ying Hu, 2005, Chinese University Press
The Garden Plants of China, Peter Valder, 1999, Florilegium Press
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

Many specialty nurseries carry Chinese herb plants that are of horticultural interest. For more unusual varieties, we recommend these sources for high quality medicinal herb seeds and plants:
Crimson Sage Nursery: http://www.medicinalherbplants.com
Forestfarm: http://www.forestfarm.com
Mountain Gardens  https://www.mountaingardensherbs.com
Strictly Medicinal Seeds: http://www.horizonherbs.com
Reverence Botanicals:  https://www.reverencebotanicals.com/about

 

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 Dou Kou Cardamon fruit Amomi rotundus
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 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 Ji Large thistle Cirsium japonicum
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 Chinese Angelica root Angelica sinensis
Dang Shen Codonopsis root, Bonnet bellflower Codonopsis pilosula
Di Gu Pi Lycium bark, Wolfberry root cortex 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 Equus asinus
Fo Shou Finger citron fruit, Buddha’s hand Citrus medica sarcodactylis
Fu Ling Poria, Hoelen, Poria cocos Poria cocos
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 Lycium barbarum
Gua Lou Trichosanthes fruit, Snakegourd Trichosanthes kirilowii
Gua Lou Pi Trichosanthes fruit peel, Snakegourd peel Trichosanthes kirilowii
Gua Lou Ren Trichosanthes seed, Snakegourd seed 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
Hou Po Magnolia bark Magnolis officinalis
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, Black cohosh 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 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, Snakegourd root 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 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 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 Aster tartaricus