Practical
Plants

Eurya japonica

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Eurya genus in the family Theaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Theaceae
Genus
Eurya
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Spread
3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

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

The leaves are used as a tea substitute or to adulterate China tea[4].

Product or use
Tea

Material uses

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

Wood - soft, close grained. Used mainly as a fuel[2].

Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat
Hill forests in the E. Himalayas, 900 - 1800 metres. Thickets in mountain slopes or valleys at elevations of 300 - 2500 metres in southern China[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
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 as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or sow in early spring in a greenhouse[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, 6 - 8cm with a slight heel, July/August in individual pots in a frame. High percentage[7].

Cultivation

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

Prefers a moderately fertile free-draining moisture retentive soil in sun or part shade with shelter from cold drying winds[5]. Probably best grown in a well-drained lime-free humus-rich soil[3]. Plants grow much taller in the milder areas of Britain[3]. Protect plants from frost when they are young[5]. The dwarf form that is grown in Britain is quite hardy once it is established[1]. The flowers are malodorous[5]. The trees are pollarded in the Himalayas and the leaves used for leaf manure[2]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

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

    ↩

  2. Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

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

    ↩

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