Hello plant lovers! After Chocolate Mint was my Plant of the Month in May, I'm now putting the absolute star for June in the spotlight. It's a true marvel of nature that many of you may have already discovered in my shop: Job's Tears (Coix lacryma-jobi), often also called Japanese Pearl Barley.
Instead of classic grass seeds, this spectacular ornamental grass produces tear-shaped, rock-hard, glossy "pearls" that look like hand-polished porcelain. The absolute highlight? Mother Nature has directly integrated the hole for stringing! So, if you love unique, natural jewelry, all you need in the future is a flowerpot and a little patience.
A stately grass with real "pearls"
In its tropical home, Job's Tears is perennial. Here, due to the cold winters, it is often cultivated as an annual ornamental grass – but it can also be wonderfully overwintered frost-free! And it makes quite an impression: visually, the plant strongly resembles corn in its younger years. It forms thick, strong stalks and broad, rich green leaves. In an ideal location, it easily reaches 60 to 120 cm – sometimes even up to 1.5 meters. Nevertheless, it is excellently suited for cultivation in large pots and is therefore also a fantastic candidate for urban balcony gardens, as long as the water supply is right (more on that in a moment).
From July to October, the still rather inconspicuous flowers appear. But then the real spectacle begins: from the female flowers, tear-shaped false fruits up to 1.5 cm in size develop. They ripen in a fascinating play of colors – from mother-of-pearl white over silver-gray and blue-gray to deep, almost black tones. When ripe, they shine as if freshly varnished.
Myths, History, and Ancient Traditions
Job's Tears is not just a grass; it is a piece of living cultural history. The name "Job's Tears" is derived from the biblical figure of Job. Job endured legendary trials and wept bitter tears of despair, but preserved his faith. The tear-shaped pearls of the plant were associated with these tears in popular belief.
In Asia, too, the plant has immense spiritual and historical significance. For centuries, traditional Buddhist prayer beads (malas) have been made from these extremely hard seeds. In Europe, they were strung into Christian rosaries. Archaeological finds even show that Job's Tears was cultivated in parts of India and China over 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. It was a fundamental staple food in many Asian regions long before rice made its great triumph there.
Uses: From Rosary to Dental Emergency
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The perfect natural jewelry: The hard shell of the tears is so stable that it cannot be crushed with your fingers. Since the flower stalk runs exactly through the center of the fruit, a perfect, continuous channel is created when the ripe pearl is pulled off the stem. You can string the pearls immediately and completely without drilling! They can be used to make bracelets, necklaces and – since they are completely non-toxic and extremely robust – even natural baby teething rings. In floristry, the branches with the hanging tears are also a wonderful eye-catcher for autumnal dried bouquets.
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Is this wild form edible? (Caution, tooth killer!): Theoretically yes, practically a clear no! The inner core of the seeds is very nutritious and gluten-free, but the extremely hard, porcelain-like shell of our specific wild form (Coix lacryma-jobi var. lacryma-jobi) will shatter your teeth. You would have to laboriously crack them with heavy tools. That is precisely why farmers thousands of years ago bred a soft-shelled variety (var. ma-yuen). Only this soft cultivated form is used today in Asia as "Adlay millet" for cooking or teas. So our hard wild form definitely belongs around the neck or in a vase – not in the cooking pot!
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In natural medicine (TCM): In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the softer seeds are known as "Yi Yi Ren" and are used for drainage, joint pain, and skin care.
Care Secrets: The Thirsty Beauty
As a robust grass, Job's Tears is thankfully impervious to most pests. So you can concentrate entirely on the right location without immediately having to use beneficial insects such as lacewings or ladybug larvae:
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Location: Give it full sun and the warmest spot you can find. It feels most comfortable protected by a south-facing wall.
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Soil & Watering (The Secret!): This is where most people make mistakes! Job's Tears is a swamp plant in its native habitat. It won't be happy with normal, drying out potting soil. The soil must be extremely nutrient-rich and, most importantly, always moist to wet. You can even plant it safely at the edge of your garden pond. If you keep it in a pot on the balcony, it's best to place it in a deep saucer where there is always water.
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Overwintering: Since it is not winter-hardy here, you can bring it indoors before the first frost. It can be overwintered well in a bright, cool, and frost-free place. Water a little less than in summer, but never let the root ball dry out completely!
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Harvest: The ornamental harvest begins in late summer or autumn. As soon as the tears lose their green color, harden, and take on their pearly, grayish-white or dark coloration, they are ready. If you wait too long, they will fall off on their own.
Fancy growing your own pearl jewelry? If you don't already have my Plant of the Month for June in your garden, you can find the young plants in 7cm pots as usual in my shop. I wish you much joy with planting, watering, and stringing! Click here...
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