Shungiku
Glebionis coronaria
Also known as: Chrysanthemum greens, Edible chrysanthemum, Tong ho, Garland chrysanthemum, Crown daisy, Sukgat
Quick facts
- Category
- leafy greens
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Days to harvest
- 30 to 50 days
- Harvest type
- continuous production over weeks or months
- Spacing
- 15 cm between plants
Environment
- Temperature
- 4–22°C
- pH
- 6 to 7
- EC (hydroponic)
- 1.2 to 1.8 mS/cm
- Daily light
- 12 to 20 mol/m²/day
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 3 to 11 (winter low around -40°C or warmer)
- Frost tolerance
- frost hardy (handles regular frost)
- Season
- cool (spring and fall crops)
Viable growing environments:
- outdoor year-round (in zone)
- outdoor in growing season (annual)
- unheated greenhouse / hoop house
- heated greenhouse
- indoor (heated home)
- indoor hydroponics under grow lights
USDA zone bounds reflect outdoor year-round survival. Anywhere outside the bounded zone range, this crop still grows as an annual in the warm months (outdoor_seasonal), under cover (greenhouse), or indoors under lights.
Growing systems
Shungiku works in:
- deep water culture (rafts)
- NFT channels
- media bed (ebb and flow)
- wicking bed
- soil bed
Growing media
The substrate the roots sit in. Choice depends on the system (clay pebbles don't fit NFT channels; rockwool isn't used in media beds) and the crop (shungiku works in the media listed below).
| Medium | pH effect | Water retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockwool (Mineral wool) | alkaline until pre-soaked | very high | low |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Perlite (Expanded volcanic glass) | neutral / inert | very low | low |
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies by source | high | high |
Bacterial surface area matters for aquaponics: clay pebbles, lava rock, and pumice double as biofilter substrate. Low-surface media (rockwool, perlite, pea gravel) work in hydroponics but need a separate biofilter in aquaponics.
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights at each growth stage; the nutrient mix calculator scales them to absolute grams or ml. EC targets shift through the plant's life: seedlings need a much lighter solution than fruiting adults.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC target (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
| vegetative | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1.4 |
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible with typical aquaponics nutrient profiles. Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth; supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
A fast, easy, cool-season hydroponic green. EC 1.0-2.0 mS/cm. pH 6.0-7.0. Temperature: 10–22°C (cool-season; bolts rapidly in heat above 25°C, but like broccoli rabe, the flower buds are also edible so bolting is less problematic). Moderate light (DLI 12-18 mol/m2/day). NFT, DWC, or media bed systems. From seed to baby leaf: 3-4 weeks. Full-sized: 5-7 weeks. Harvest by cutting leaves and tender stem tips. The aromatic, slightly bitter flavor is an acquired taste for Western palates but is deeply valued in Japanese and Chinese cooking. For hot pot: add fresh shungiku leaves to the simmering broth in the last 1-2 minutes; they wilt quickly and infuse the broth with their distinctive aroma. Succession plant every 3 weeks. Pest issues are minimal.
Verified against: kitazawa-seed-co, korean-rural-development-administration, u-of-georgia-extension. Last reviewed 2026-05-15.