Practical
Plants

Coriaria terminalis

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Coriaria genus in the family Coriariaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
1.2 m
Spread
2 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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

The seed may be poisonous[1]. Although we have no more information, it is reasonable to assume that other parts of the plant are also toxic.

Edible uses

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

Fruit - raw or used as a beverage[1][4][2]. The seed must not be eaten. Use with great caution since most parts of the plant, including the seed, are probably toxic and some reports suggest the fruit should not be used at all. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[6].

Plant part
Fruit

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Sikkim, Tibet, China.
Habitat
Thickets and woodland margins, 2000 - 2600 metres in W. China[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow February/March in a greenhouse[9]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[5]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Fair percentage[9]. Division in the spring.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in any good soil[8], though it prefers a fairly good loamy soil in full sun or light shade[4][5][6]. Requires a sunny sheltered position[5][8]. This species is one of the hardiest members of the genus, tolerating temperatures down to at least -5°c if sheltered from cold winds[6]. Plants are hardy from Sussex westwards[1]. It is hardy at Kew where it fruits annually and resprouts from the base if cut back in severe winters[4][6]. Plants flower and fruit at the tips of the current years growth and so can produce fruit even if they have been cut to the ground[182, K]. They can fruit well even when young, plants growing with us flowered and fruited in their third year from seed[K]. When well sited, suckers can be produced at some distance from the parent plant[233, K]. The roots of plants in this genus bear nitrogen-fixing nodules[7]. Whilst much of the nitrogen will be utilized by the growing plant, some of it will become available for other plants growing nearby[K].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

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  3. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

  8. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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