Eleutherococcus spinosus
| Eleutherococcus spinosus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 10' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Eleutherococcus spinosus
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame[1]. It can be slow to germinate. Stored seed requires 6 months warm followed by 3 months cold stratification[2] and can be very slow to germinate[3]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse for at least the first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[2][1].
Cuttings of ripe wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 30cm long in a cold frame[4].
Root cuttings in late winter[1].
Division of suckers in the dormant season[1].
Cultivation: Prefers a light warm open loamy humus-rich soil and a position sheltered from north and east winds[5][1]. Prefers a well-drained soil and full sun[1]. Tolerates urban pollution and poor soils[1].
Plants are hardy to at least -15°c if they are sheltered from cold winds[1].
Considered to be a part of E. sieboldianus by some botanists, but this species has smaller leaves[1]. It is closely related to and often confused with E. divaricatus[1].
There is a spineless form of this species, known as Eleutherococcus spinosus inermis (Makino) H. Ohashi[6].
Range: E. Asia - China, C. Japan.
Edibility: Leaves and young budlings - cooked[7][8][9][10][11].
The dried leaves are a tea substitute[9][11].
Although we have no record of the seed being edible, it is said to contain 5.6 - 30.6% protein, 5.6 - 36.6% fat and 2.1 - 3.5% ash[12].
Medicinal: The cortex of the root is tonic and analgesic. It is used to treat general debility, rheumatic pains and many other complaints[13][12]. A wine made from the root is considered to be a general tonic for restoring vigour and restoring sexual potency[12].
Usage: Plants can be used as a hedge[1].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Pollution: Tolerates environmental pollution.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: E. pentaphyllus. Acanthopanax spinosus.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan, 1987.
- ↑ Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Flora of Japan.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Oriental Herbs and Vegetables, Vol 39 No. 2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1986.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.