Hi, I’m wondering if anyone has tried eating or growing any Campanumoea lancifolia, aka spider berry / abacus berry / red ginseng berry. Not that I need anything else to grow, but if it’s already in the US I would be interested in how it grows for people.
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So interesting, anybody got cold hardiness on this?
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Thanks for the lead! I didn’t think to check Facebook.
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As best I can tell, the synonym is Codonopsis lancifoliis. If so, judging by iNaturlist, it’s probably a zone 9 hardy plant.
Looks to be the right plant.
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Fantastic Find! I just started researching the fruit. Here’s what I found
Fruits edible raw or cooked (Typically Consumed fresh or made into juices). I haven’t personally but I’ve read it taste Mild berry flavor (more Insipid when underripe, but improves when ripened well), similar to blueberry in flavor & crunchy refreshing texture. Fruits contain Mineral elements, ploysaccharides, dietary fiber & Anthocyanins.
Cyclocodon lancifolius is the most recent Scientific name, it appears Campanumoea lancifolia is the old scientifc name. It’s part of the bellflower family, suprised that family makes edible berries. It’s a perennial herb.
Will update the more I learn, but that’s so far what I know
UPDATE
I just found the Phylogenic Tree for Spiderberry. The other Cyclocodon species also make Spiderberries (I labeled it Spider-Berry Group).
Apparently our Spiderberry (Cyclocodon lancifolius) is relatively closely related to Balloonflower (Platycodon grandiflorus). Could a potential Intergeneric Hybrid be achieved?
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Nice! Would be cool if those could find their way to my local Intentional grocery store 
You may be able to buy these on taobao to ship to you, there are a few options for reasonable prices (though I cannot vouche for the quality )
Maybe in a few years if they catch on, a long with things like Chilean guava berries too!
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Nice, but what if they rot before they arrive? I suppose I could still save the seeds. Have you order from there?
Good question, there’s actually a lot of different pictures on taobao that leads me to believe there’s more than one “species”.
I’d reckon they may rot a bit if shipping to the US. Seeds would likely be viable, but I don’t know how easy this plant is to propogate via seed. The price is only like $2 USD (plus shipping), so it wouldn’t set you back too much if you’re curious. Though I don’t know if they can ship fruit
If I get to try them, I’ll report back on flavor and texture the best I can.
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I just wonder if it’s all 1 species with many cultivars or many species with few cultivars? Are they selling mostly wild forms or are these actually cultivated variteis? They seem bigger than the ones from the Facebook guy.
I’ll do more research on that, but notice how the seeds are SUPER TINY (Like a single Millimetre long). Even smaller than blueberry seeds.
Not bad, but the ship fruit is the problem I’m worried about. I’m also not sure how to Order on it.
Bet! See if you can also save some seeds too
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@zone7a Do I read this correctly (Google Translated), 12 boxes for 23.66 yuan = 3.38 usd? Like 12 cartons filled of berries?
Yes, looks right to me, not sure if they ship to the US
Yea that’s what I’m trying to find out. Last thing I want is them to send it but package fruits get destroyed in customs. That shouldn’t happen if they ship to U.S. right?
Nice finds. If the fresh fruit can’t be shipped, maybe there are some dried ones somewhere that seeds could still be collected from. If you manage to order and get any, I’m definitely interested in some seeds. (or a few wrinkly old fruit)
Looks like there is a somewhat related species? Seed is offered here, but it may not be importable - not sure how that works.
I’d reach out to Virginia fruit grower on Facebook if you have facebook. I don’t think he sets out to sell stuff, but he might mail you a few seeds. I’ve been enjoying his YouTube channel too! He’s not much if any farther south than me, but he’s right on the coast so quite a bit warmer. It’s really cool what he’s been able to grow in Z8 though!
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This review was posted today.
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They taste a little sour and sweet and have a taste similar to a blueberry. The texture is firmer and sandy because of the amount of seeds. The texture is kind of like a bad red delicious too- that Styrofoamy texture. I’d always pick a blueberry over these, unless they’re really bad blueberries.
Any questions ask away. These are available in china.
My sister says "清新的草木香味” which means they taste vegetal/herbaceous. I don’t think it tastes very vegetal at all, but there is a bit of an herbaceous taste, but it’s most just a little sour and sweet and sandy. Some people here say they like them more than a blueberry but I’d disagree 
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