Fo-Ti, He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum)

Fo-ti is a legendary plant in traditional Chinese herbal medicine used to nourish the heart and calm the spirit. The vining herbaceous perennial has red stems, heart shaped leaves and either white or pink flowers. It is a fast growing, almost to the point of being unstoppable and good for fences, creating shade for porches, etc. Grow in full sun, semi-shade, or dappled shade in moist well-drained soil.

The English translation of Fo-Ti, He Shou Wu is "vine to pass through the night." The root is harvested and has a distinctive sweet yet bitter taste. In Chinese herbalism fo-ti is thought to unblock the channels of energy through the body, allowing the escape of the pathogenic influences that causing generalized weakness, soreness, pain, and fatigue.