Practical
Plants

Lindera megaphylla

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Lindera genus in the family Lauraceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Lauraceae
Genus
Lindera
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
10 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious

Uses

Material uses

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

The aromatic leaves are used as incense[2].

Product or use
Essential

Environment

Range
E. Asia - S. and S.W. China.
Habitat
Not known
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral
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 greenhouse. The seed has a short viability and should not be allowed to dry out[3]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Give some protection from cold for at least the plants first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July in a frame[3]. Layering.

Cultivation

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

Requires a lime-free rather moist soil[3]. Prefers partial shade or dappled sunlight in a fertile moisture-retentive soil enriched with leafmould[3]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[3]. Plants succeed outdoors at Kew, where there is a specimen 6 metres tall, though they are rather more tender when young[1]. Plants are much smaller in cultivation than they are in the wild, often making no more than a shrub[3]. The leaves are very aromatic[2]. Plants can be pruned right back to the base if required, though any drastic pruning is best spread over several seasons[3]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[3]. 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. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2

  3. 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

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