Sochan: an Old but Under Appreciated Green

Occasionally we have the opportunity to access some interesting “new” plants through the sharing of friends and customers. This week I’d like to share the attributes of Sochan, aka Rudbeckia lacinata, also known as the green-headed coneflower or Cut leaf coneflower. One of our generous master gardener customers recently dug up some of her Sochan to share with us.

Long gathered and used by Native Americans, and most specifically in our area by the Eastern Band Of the Cherokee Indians on lands now part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this plant is native, edible, medicinal and beautiful. The Cherokee harvested the young greens in the spring from local riverbanks and creeks. The flavor can be described as zesty, mildly bitter (similar to arugula). According to Emily Glaser in her 2018 article in WNC magazine, its nutritional benefits are similar to kale and it has high levels of vitamins and minerals. The leaves get tougher and more bitter with age, so it’s best to enjoy the new spring growth and then allow plants to mature (to about 5’ tall) and then admire the clusters of yellow blooms in late summer.

In her very interesting and informative December 2021 Blog (CASTANEA), Juliet Blankespoor of the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine shares the history, medicinal uses, cooking suggestions and more:

chestnutherbs.com

Green-headed Coneflower, Sochan

I first met this beautiful plant as “Green headed coneflower” while exploring the rivers of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. I had learned about using its roots as an immune stimulant, similar to Echinacea roots, from my teacher, Michael Moore.

For any who like to try growing and eating native plants, this plant requires full sun/part shade and are also loved by pollinators. Sochan can be started by nursery plant (often carried in the spring and/or fall at Painters). Sochan is also successful by seed. For best results, plant them in the fall since they need the winter cold to germinate. If you miss fall planting you can stratify the seeds in the refrigerator and plant in early spring. Seeds can be purchased from Sow True Seeds in Asheville. (We love them!)

Check our Growing Lists to see what will be available for you this season! https://www.paintersgreenhouse.com/growinglist