Practical
Plants

Eleutherococcus gracylistylus

Wu Jia Pi

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Flowers[6]. No more details are given.

Plant part
Flowers

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.

The leafy shoots are tonic and are also believed to alleviate internal injuries by dispelling blood[8]. The root bark is antibacterial, antirheumatic and diuretic[5]. It is used in the treatment of arthritis, backache and a host of other ailments. A medicinal wine made from it is commonly on sale in China[8]. A decoction of the stem bark or the roots is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, aches and pains in the back and legs, open sores on the scrotum, beriberi and traumatic injuries[4]. The plant is aphrodisiac, nutritive and tonic[8].

Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Miscellany

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China.
Habitat
Wasted slopes or shrub thickets[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame[7]. It can be slow to germinate. Stored seed requires 6 months warm followed by 3 months cold stratification[2] and can be very slow to germinate[3]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse for at least the first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[2][7]. Cuttings of ripe wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 30cm long in a cold frame[9]. Root cuttings in late winter[7]. Division of suckers in the dormant season[7].

Cultivation

Succeeds in an open loamy soil[1], preferring a well-drained humus-rich soil in full sun[7]. Tolerates poor soils and atmospheric pollution[7]. Plants are hardy to at least -10 to -15°c if they are sheltered from cold winds[7]. This species is closely related to E. sieboldianus[7].

References

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

    ↩

  2. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

  3. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

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  4. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2

  5. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

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

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

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