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Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Eleutherococcus genus in the family Araliaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

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

Uses

Edible uses

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

Young leaves - raw or cooked and used as a vegetable[2][7][8]. Old leaves are dried and used as a tea substitute[2][7][8]. A wine is made from the bark. It is highly fancied by the Chinese[8]. It is probably used mainly for medicinal purposes[K].

Product or use
Drink
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Leaves

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 bark contains saponins, acanthosides, cardiac glycosides and polysaccharides[12]. It is adaptogenic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and diuretic[6][10][12]. It is used in Korea in the treatment of lumbago, neuralgia, arthritis and oedema[12].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antipyretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Adaptogen

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Korea, Manchuria.
Habitat
Moist woods, wooded riverbanks, forest edges and clearings[13][5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
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 it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame[9]. 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][9]. Cuttings of ripe wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 30cm long in a cold frame[11]. Root cuttings in late winter[9]. Division of suckers in the dormant season[9].

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in an open loamy soil[1], preferring a well-drained humus-rich soil in full sun[9]. Tolerates poor soils and atmospheric pollution[9]. A very cold resistant plant[14] if it is sheltered from cold winds, tolerating temperatures down to at least -15°c[9]. A very ornamental plant[14], it spreads vigorously by means of suckers[9]. This species is closely related to E. divaricatus[9].

References

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  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

    ↩

  5. Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. 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↩9

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

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984-00-00

    ↩

  14. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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