Ashwagandha: planting, care & uses
Ashwagandha is a time-honoured medicinal plant in South Asia and North Africa. Find out all about its uses and how to go about planting ashwagandha yourself.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an important medicinal plant in traditional Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurvedic medicine. Read on to learn all about ashwagandha plants and their uses as well as information on how to grow them.
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Ashwagandha: origin and characteristics
Ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng, belongs to the nightshade family (Solanaceae). This perennial shrub is native to the Mediterranean, North Africa, South Asia and the Canary Islands. Ashwagandha has been used for thousands of years as a narcotic, intoxicant and aphrodisiac. In Europe, it was first mentioned in medicinal plant encyclopaedias in the 16th century.
By the way: you may also find ashwagandha being referred to as winter cherry, but this name makes it easy to confuse with another plant in the same family that sometimes goes by the same name, namely the Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum syn. Solanum capsicastrum). It is also easy to mix up the name winter cherry with winter-flowering cherries (Prunus × subhirtella), which are different plants entirely.
Ashwagandha shrubs grow from 50 to 150cm tall with felt-like branches. These plants develop many unbranched, light brown roots that grow laterally along the taproot, each of which can reach the size of a thin carrot. Ashwagandha leaves are pubescent (hairy), grey-green and ovoid. They can grow up to 10cm long and give off an extremely unpleasant smell when touched. The green-yellow flowers typically grow in clusters of five from the plant’s leaf axils. They are surrounded by hairy toothed sepals, which, after pollination, form a paper lantern-like sheath around a berry, similarly to physalis (Physalis) or ground cherries (Physalis pruinosa). In the UK, ashwagandha plants flower between mid-July and September. When the berries ripen in late autumn, the dry, brown sepals break open to reveal the red fruit inside. The light brown seeds inside ashwagandha fruits are flat and kidney-shaped, which is typical for nightshades.
Planting ashwagandha
Ashwagandha plants can be grown in the UK as a perennial ornamental plant. We do not recommend growing it for its medicinal use, as the potency of the active ingredients is difficult to determine and consumption could result in poisoning.
When planting ashwagandha, opt for dry, warm and sunny locations on nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. These perennial shrubs do not tolerate waterlogging or damp soils, so a drainage layer is necessary, especially when growing one in a pot. If you want to grow an ashwagandha plant from seed, start it indoors on a warm windowsill between February and March. To do this, sow the ashwagandha seeds and cover them with about 2cm of soil. We suggest using a low-nutrient growing medium, such as our peat-free, sustainably produced Plantura Organic Herb & Seedling Compost. Our seedling compost is well-drained and low in nutrients, effectively preventing waterlogging and promoting strong and healthy root growth. Keep the seeds at 20 to 25 °C and ensure the soil stays moist. The first plantlets should appear after 1 to 2 weeks. Prick out your ashwagandha seedlings after the first true leaves appear, and pot them up individually into fresh, nutrient-rich potting soil.
After the last frosts around mid-May, you can start planting your ashwagandha plants outdoors. Allow them a few days to acclimatise to their new environment first. These plants prefer a warm, sheltered spot in the garden bed. A planter that can hold at least 10 litres is also suitable and makes overwintering easier. As ashwagandha shrubs spread, ensure each plant has at least 1m2 of space to grow. When planting ashwagandha in pots, we recommend using a nutrient-rich organic potting soil, such as our Plantura Organic Tomato & Vegetable Compost. Our vegetable compost can also be used to improve poor garden soil.
- Perfect for tomatoes & other vegetables such as chillies, courgettes & more
- For strong & healthy plant growth as well as an abundant vegetable harvest
- Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
If you plan on planting ashwagandha in a pot, first place a 5 to 10cm thick drainage layer of gravel, coarse sand or expanded clay at the bottom of the pot. This will improve drainage and help prevent waterlogging. After that, fill the pot partially with potting soil and place the young plant in it at the same depth as it was before transplanting. Fill in the rest of the pot with soil, press everything down lightly and then water thoroughly.
Plant care
Ashwagandha shrubs are generally low-maintenance, as they do not need pruning or thinning out during the growing season. Water occasionally, but always allow the top layer of soil to dry out before watering again. As these plants pull a lot of nutrients from the soil, we advise fertilising them from June onwards. By this time, the nutrients from the potting soil will have been depleted and the plants will have started to form flower buds. An organic liquid fertiliser, such as our Plantura Liquid Tomato Food, is easy to apply while watering and provides ashwagandha plants with the essential nutrients nitrogen and potassium. Fertilise regularly through to the end of the growing season. Regarding the dosage, we suggest diluting 15 to 25ml in 5 litres of water and applying about once a week.
- Perfect for tomatoes & other vegetables
- Liquid fertiliser for healthy plant growth & an abundant harvest
- Quick & easy application - child & pet friendly
Ashwagandha plants are not hardy in the UK and need to be protected from cold damage. As temperatures begin to drop in autumn, move your plant to a bright, heatable area where it does not drop below 10 °C. Whether in your flat, a conservatory or elsewhere, ensure wherever you move your plant gets enough light and temperatures remain around 15 to 18 °C. Before moving the plant to its winter quarters, feel free to prune it back by half. This not only makes overwintering your ashwagandha plant easier, but it also takes up less space. The plant will sprout again in spring. Watering is hardly necessary in winter, so do so sparingly to prevent fungal diseases. There is also no need to fertilise until the following spring. Alternatively, you can sow new ashwagandha plants each year as ornamental annuals.
Ashwagandha benefits and uses
The leaves, fruits and roots of ashwagandha are all used in herbal medicine. Most commonly, the dried roots are processed into powder and consumed as tea or in capsules. As suggested in the Latin name, Withania somnifera, its main medicinal uses are to promote deep sleep and relaxation and relieve stress symptoms such as loss of appetite and restlessness. Ashwagandha extracts also have antispasmodic and pain-relieving effects which aid with relieving cough, fever and other cold symptoms. The main active substances are alkaloids, including withasomnine and withaferine A, which studies have shown aid in the treatment of tumours. However, consuming too much of these substances can cause negative side effects typical of poisoning such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness and cold sweats. As the amount of these active substances vary between plant parts, no part of a homegrown ashwagandha should be used medicinally. Only use ashwagandha after consulting with your doctor, and stick to standardised and tested ashwagandha powders and medicinal products.
Lulo (Solanum quitoense), also called naranjilla, is a relative of ashwagandha. Find out more about this unusual but edible berry and get tips on growing it in your own garden.
