Practical
Plants

Schizophragma hydrangeoides

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Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
deciduous
Growth rate
slow
Height
12 m
Spread
12 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

Leaves - cooked[2][4].

Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

Plants can be allowed to sprawl and are then used as a ground cover for a shady position[6][9].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber, Soil surface

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Japan, Korea.
Habitat
Damp woods and thickets in mountains all over Japan[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter to early spring in a greenhouse. Germination is usually fair to very good[12]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for their first winter, planting them out in late spring or early summer. Layering in spring directly into pots. A fair to good percentage[12], though it can be difficult to find suitable low growth[8]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 4 - 5cm with a heel, July in a frame[1][12]. Keep the cuttings moist[12].

Cultivation

Requires a moist leafy soil and some shade at the roots. An easily grown plant[1], it prefers a good loamy soil and plenty of moisture[3]. Succeeds on most soil types, disliking only very alkaline soils[8]. Plants succeed in sun or shade[5], though they prefer full sun[8][10]. In the hotter parts of Britain they prefer shade from the midday sun[10]. They succeed on north-facing walls[6][10]. The fully dormant plant is hardy to about -20°c[5][7]. Plants are slow to establish and slow-growing when young, though they speed up somewhat with age[8]. Plants do not normally require pruning, though any unwanted growth can be removed in the winter[10]. Plants have a similar growth habit to ivy (Hedera helix) climbing trees by means of aerial roots or growing along the woodland floor[1][5]. Plants might need some help to become attached in their early years[5]. Some named varieties have been developed for their ornamental value[5].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  6. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  8. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  11. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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