Abstract: Abstract Authers have made experiment on the suitab1e seeding time and plan- ting enviroment, and determined the content of essential oil and main constituent from the leaves of Elscholtzia communis Diels at different growth and develo- pment stages. The results showed that the storage lif e of seeds with germinating power is within 5 -- 6 months at normal temperature, but germinating rate of seeds is only up to 55%. The suitable seeding time is from May to the first ten days of June a year. Both tropical mountainous area over 800 m altitude and sub- tropical regions are fit growing enviroment. In the tropical regions at lower a1ti- tude, seeds can be early sown and harvested, and grown in suitable microenyiroment where soil water is well drained off and natural shade trees are available in the afternoon. The essential oil content of fresh leaves and shoots is gradually increas-ing along ripeness of the plant growth and development with each passing day and is 0.3-0.8%. The main component is citral, its content is 92.3-95.8%, and not obvious variation with different planting site and each growth and deyelopment stages.

Key words: Elscholtzia communis