Photinia serratifolia
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Photinia genus in the family Rosaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
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 leaves are diuretic, febrifuge, stimulant and tonic[4]. A tincture of the wood is ingested as a tonic and anodyne[4]. The plant is said to have excessive aphrodisiac properties[4].
- Product or use
- Anodyne
- Product or use
- Aphrodisiac
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Stimulant
- Product or use
- Tonic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The wood is hard and heavy, suitable for making furniture and other small articles[6].
- Product or use
- Wood
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China.
- Habitat
- Mixed forests, roadsides, slopes, fields, low mountain regions and sea shores from sea level to 2500 metres[6].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the autumn. Stored seed will probably require stratification and should be sown as early in the year as possible[7]. Germination is usually good[7]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Basal cuttings in a frame[3]. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[2][7]. They take about 2 months to root and should be overwintered in a greenhouse, planting out in late spring[7]. Fair to good percentage[7]. Cuttings of almost ripe side shoots, 7 - 12cm with a heel, October/November in a cold frame[7]. Lift the following autumn and plant in their permanent positions[7]. Layering in autumn. Partially sever the layer about 12 months later and lift in the following spring. High percentage[3].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a well-drained fertile soil in a sheltered position in sun or light shade[1][3]. Prefers a warm soil that is not too heavy or close[2]. Tolerates calcareous soils[2][3]. Dislikes windy sites[2]. Plants are hardy to between -7 and -12°c[3]. Hardy at Kew Gardens in all but exceptionally cold winters, this species is at its best in the milder areas of the country where specimens up to 15 metres tall exist[2]. There are some named forms, selected for their ornamental value[3]. The flowers have a delicate scent[5]. Plants are susceptible to fireblight[3]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[3].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00