Practical
Plants

Aralia cordata

Udo

a perennial member of the Aralia genus in the family Araliaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Aralia
Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.8 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young branched shoots - cooked or raw[10][17][19][2][6][16]. They can be up to 1.5 metres long and have a mild and agreeable flavour[4]. They are usually blanched and are crisp and tender with a unique lemon-like flavour[8]. They can be sliced and added to salads, soups etc[12]. The shoots contain about 1.1% protein, 0.42% fat, 0.8% soluble carbohydrate, 0.55% ash[7]. Root - cooked[14][2][6]. Used like scorzonera[10].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The root is sometimes used in China as a substitute for ginseng (Panax species)[13]. It is said to be analgesic, antiinflammatory, carminative, diuretic, febrifuge, stimulant, stomachic and tonic[13][16]. The root contains an essential oil, saponins, sesquiterpenes and diterpene acids[16]. It is used in Korea to treat the common cold and migraines[16].

Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Diuretic

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat
Thickets and thin woods, esp. by streams and ravines, all over Japan[18][15].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 - 5 months of cold stratification. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 4 months at 20°c[5]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Once the plants are 25cm or more tall, they can be planted out into their permanent positions, late spring or early summer being the best time to do this. Root cuttings 8cm long, December in a cold frame[3][20]. Store the roots upside down in sand and pot up in March/April. High percentage[20]. Division of suckers in late winter[3]. Very easy, the suckers can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a good deep loam and a semi-shady position[1][5]. Requires a sheltered position[1]. Plants are hardier when grown in poorer soils[11]. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.0 to 7.4. Dormant plants are hardy to about -25°c[9]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K]. This is a commonly cultivated food crop in Japan, where it is grown for its edible shoots. There are several named varieties[10][17][18][4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Oriental Herbs and Vegetables, Vol 39 No. 2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  6. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  7. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  9. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩

  10. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  12. Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-4781-4

    ↩

  13. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  14. Sholto-Douglas. J. Alternative Foods.

    ↩

  15. Flora of Japan www.foj.info

    ↩

  16. Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  17. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  18. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  19. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  20. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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