Ashwagandha is an evergreen shrub found in parts of India, Africa, and the Middle East. It is also known as Indian Ginseng or Winter Cherry, and has been in use as a medicinal plant for thousands of years, especially in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. The leaves, fruits and roots of Ashwagandha are all used. Most commonly, the dried roots are processed into powder and consumed as tea or in capsules. It is recommended to dry the roots completely before using. As suggested in the Latin name, Withania somnifera, its main uses are to promote deep sleep and relaxation and relieve stress symptoms such as loss of appetite and restlessness. Ashwagandha extracts also have been reported to 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.
Ashwagandha are extremely frost sensitive and they won’t even grow in cold, wet spring conditions. Likes warm, sandy soil and temps above 70 degrees. 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 plan on planting ashwagandha in a pot, first place a 2-4 inch 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. Once established, water occasionally but always allow the top layer of soil to dry out before watering again. Place in a sunny location. As these plants pull a lot of nutrients from the soil, soil amendments are helpful. Ashwagandha shrubs grow from 2-5 feet tall with felt-like branches.
