Practical
Plants

Lindera praecox

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

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Taxonomy and growth

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

Uses

Material uses

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

An oil obtained from the seed is used in lighting[5][6].

Product or use
Oil

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Japan, Korea.
Habitat
Thickets on hillsides and on the borders of streams and lakes[2].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
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]. A very ornamental plant[1], but it is rather tender in Britain and is best grown in a semi-shaded position on a wall[3][4]. It is fairly hardy at Kew, but it only flowers well there when it is grown on a wall[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. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩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

  4. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩

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

    ↩

  6. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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