Practical
Plants

Eleutherococcus japonicus

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Young leaves - cooked[2][5].

Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
E. Asia - C. and S. Japan.
Habitat
Rather common in the hills and mountains of Honshu and Kyushu[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
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[6]. It can be slow to germinate. Stored seed requires 6 months warm followed by 3 months cold stratification[3] and can be very slow to germinate[4]. 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[3][6]. Cuttings of ripe wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 30cm long in a cold frame[7]. Root cuttings in late winter[6]. Division of suckers in the dormant season[6].

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in an open loamy soil[1], preferring a well-drained humus-rich soil in full sun[6]. Tolerates poor soils and atmospheric pollution[6].

References

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

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

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  3. 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

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

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

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

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  8. Flora of Japan www.foj.info

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