Requires a rich well-drained soil in a warm sunny position. Requires greenhouse protection in Britain. A plant survived 2 winters outdoors in a pot in Cornwall before succumbing to a very wet and cold winter. This does suggest that the plant is hardy enough to survive outdoors at least in the milder parts of Britain. A climbing plant, supporting itself by twining around the branches of other plants.

Root - raw or cooked. Crisp, sweet and tender. Some reports suggest that the root is not very nice and was only used when nothing else was available, this is probably because old roots were tried. Roots should be no more than 3 years old, preferably only 2. The roots can be up to 1.2 metres long and weigh 11 kilos. This report almost certainly refers to roots older than 3 years.

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water, or scarify the seed, and sow in individual pots in a greenhouse in early spring. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 22°c. Plants are extremely resentful of root disturbance, even when they are quite small, and should be potted up almost as soon as they germinate. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter then plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of side shoots in a peaty soil. Layering.

Plains and dry banks, especially on sandy shores.