Practical
Plants

Hydrangea arborescens

Seven Barks

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Hydrangea genus in the family Hydrangeaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Spread
2 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

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

The peeled branches and twigs have been used to make a tea[12]. The new growth of young twigs has been peeled, boiled thoroughly then fried and eaten[12].

Plant part
Stem

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.

Seven barks was used by the North American Indians as a remedy for kidney and bladder stones and is still used for these purposes in modern herbalism[11]. It is considered to both encourage the expulsion of stones and to help dissolve those that remain[11]. The roots are anthelmintic, cathartic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic and tonic[13][7][15][5][8][9]. They are used in the treatment of kidney stones, mucous irritations of the bladder, cystitis, nephritis, enlarged prostate and bronchial afflictions[8][9][11]. Excessive doses can cause dizziness and bronchial congestion[9]. The fresh roots are very succulent and can be easily cut, when dry they become very tough and resistant[13]. They are harvested in the autumn and it is best to cut them into short sections before drying them[13][11]. The scraped bark is used as a poultice on wounds, burns, sore muscles, sprains etc[8]. The bark is chewed in the treatment of stomach and heart ailments[8]. The leaves are cathartic, diuretic, sialagogue and tonic[13].

Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Cathartic
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Sialagogue
Product or use
Tonic

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - New York to Florida, west to Ohio, Oklahoma and Indiana.
Habitat
Rich woods, banks of streams and calcareous rocky slopes[14].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, 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 - surface sow in a greenhouse in spring[4]. Cover the pot with paper until the seed germinates[17]. 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, 8cm long, July/August in a frame. Overwinter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring[17]. Thick growths make the best cuttings, but these should be placed in individual pots[17]. Good percentage[4]. Cuttings of mature wood in late autumn in a frame[6]. Mound layering in spring. Takes 12 months[17]. Division of suckers in late winter[4]. They can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. Leaf-bud cuttings of the current seasons growth in a frame[6].

Cultivation

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

Tolerates most soils[6], thriving in a well-drained loamy soil[1], but resenting dryness at the roots[3][6]. Requires partial shade[3]. Does well on very acid soils with a pH around 4.5[6]. In frosty areas it is best to site the plant in a position shaded from the early morning sun[9]. A good bee plant[2]. The flowers are sweetly scented[10]. Plants are best left unpruned[16]. Another report says that the previous year's flowering shoots should be cut back in early spring[9]. This species is notably susceptible to honey fungus[6].

References

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

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  2. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

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

    ↩1↩2

  4. 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

  5. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

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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. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

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  8. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  10. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

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  11. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

  13. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

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  15. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  16. Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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