Upright, leafy grass plant with hanging, pearly-white seeds.

Job's tears is a tropical grass species from Southeast Asia that can be grown as an annual in our garden.

In Asia, this species is used as a food crop, as the seeds can be used as a grain for baking bread, for example. Ground Job's tears can also be made into a tea and liqueur. In Chinese medicine, Job's tears have various uses. In Asia and South America, necklaces are made from the beautiful, grayish-pearl-shaped seeds.

The seeds can be harvested around September, after they turn from green to black and finally gray over the summer.