(Gynura Divaricata) Chinese Gynura, 白子菜

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(Gynura divaricata) also known as  Chinese Gynura,  白子菜, Gynura Bicolor, or Cholesterol Spinach is one of the most treasures herb among Hmong people and its community. This herbs is used in many Hmong traditional dishes. It is also used in conjunction with other herbs to aid mom with new birth in a 30 days postpartum regimen. In the USA, It is a must have herb in backyard growing of very Hmong household and community.

There's much confusions on the internet. But after researching and reading countless articles, armed with plants on-hands  and  the on-going encounter with traditional practice in daily life of Hmong people I'm certain that a name listed by a Botanist at Hong Kong zoological and botanical gardens is an authentic and recognized botanical name. (Gynura divaricata) sometimes mislabeled as  G. Crepioides, G. Procumbens, or G. Pseudochina. I personally believe that Gynura. divaricata is the closest relative to G. Procumbens, it's like a sister plant. Besides the purple underside of its leaves and stems, it is visually the same to me. They both hardly to certain conditions and needs the same environment to thrive and have the same growth habit. Have the same flowers, same tastes, and aromatic scents. Both have the same overall  apparent,  with lanceolat smooth and glossy leaves. It is not to be confused with its bi-color cousin (Gynura Crepioides) Okinawa Spinach. Attached is four starter plants of the same family side by side for your comparison. 

  • Native to tropical Asian countries.  China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia,  and Indonesia. Cultivate in many other countries for its culinary and medicinal value.
  • A perennial in tropical and subtropical climate. I grow them year round in a Mediterranean climate of USDA zone 9a, where winter low is 27°F and summer high is 110°F 
  • G. divaricata 白子菜 is rich in iron, potassium, calcium, and vitamin A. 
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5412215/









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