Fibrous plants and herbs from Japan played important historical roles in Asia and the United States. A special group of fibrous plants, known in Japanese as asa, were used in traditional Japanese woven crafts. Among these plants were Japanese wisteria and taima, the latter a Japanese strand of hemp. Fibrous herbs like mugwort, meanwhile, were used in traditional eastern Asian medicines in Japan and China. Many of these plants were brought to the United States for gardening.
Japanese Wisteria
Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) is a deciduous flowering vine suited for growth in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9 (winter lows of -20F). It exhibits moderate to rapid growth and a clockwise twine climbing method. The vine, an asa plant, bears fragrant clusters of bluish-purple, white, or pink flowers. These clusters grow as long as 19 inches. Japanese wisteria can reach a mature height of 35 feet and has a longer bloom period than Chinese wisteria, which is a competing garden plant. A number of Japanese wisteria cultivars have been developed for western gardeners.
Mugwort
Mugwort (Artemsia vulgaris) is a Eurasian herb species used in China and Japan. It is known as yomogi in Japanese. A related species, Artemesia princeps, is native to Japan. This family of perennial herb has fibrous root systems and bears minute fruit. Mugwort is best grown in full sun or partial shade. The plants are compact and bushy with stems as tall as 2 feet. In Japan, mugwort is used in soups and salads. The herb is used in the preparation of special Japanese New Year rice cakes.
Kudzu
Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) is a fibrous Japanese vine that has made quite a home for itself in the United States. The vine was brought to the States in 1876 to prevent soil erosion. Kudzu has since proliferated wildly and is now a troublesome and invasive plant that covers an estimated 2 million acres in the American south. It commonly chokes telephone poles, power lines, and trees. Kudzu is a rapid grower with small hairs on its leaves and stems. In traditional medicine, kudzu was distilled to an herbal form and used to treat alcoholism. Its modern medicinal uses are helping with headaches, upset stomach, dizziness and vomiting.
Hemp
Japanese hemp, or taima, is a fibrous plant used in Nara sarashi, a traditional woven craft. Though growing marijuana was banned in Japan by the American government following World War II, individual growers may petition the government for permits. Permits will be granted if growers intend to use the plant in the preservation of Japanese cultural heritage by propagating Nara sarashi, a craft that has become rare in the 21st century. The Hemp Energy Research and Development Academy provide hemp seeds for such purposes in Japan.
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