Euonymus alatus
| Euonymus alatus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 7' |
| Width: | 10' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Euonymus alatus (common name: winged spindle tree)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 8 - 12 weeks warm followed by 8 - 16 weeks cold stratification and can then be sown in a cold frame[1][2]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm long taken at a node or with a heel, July/August in a frame. Very easy[3].
Cultivation: Thrives in almost any soil, including chalk[3], it is particularly suited to dry shaded areas[3]. Prefers a well-drained loamy soil[4].
A very ornamental and cold-tolerant plant[4], it tolerate temperatures down to about -25°c[5].
There are some named varieties developed for their ornamental value[6]. 'Compactus' is a more dense growing form for small gardens[6].
Range: E. Asia - Japan.
Habitat: Thickets and woods in lowland and mountains all over Japan[7].
Edibility: Young leaves, boiled[8][9].
The fruit may be edible[8][9]. No further details are given, though we would recommend caution in eating any member of this genus[K]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[3]. The seed contains 20.5% protein, 44.4% fat and 3.9% ash[10].
These reports of edibility should be treated with some caution, see the notes above on toxicity.
The flowers are a tea substitute[11][10].
Medicinal: The stem and branches are alterative, analgesic, anodyne, anthelmintic, anticoagulant, antiphlogistic, antipruritic, astringent blood tonic, carminative, emmenagogue, hypoglycaemic, and purgative[12][11][10][13]. It is used in Korea to treat intestinal worms, suppressed menstruation and cancer[13]. A decoction is used in China in the treatment of 'cold' headache, general body aches, pruritis, irregular menstruation and other gynaecological diseases[12].
Plants contain the anticancer compound dulcitol[10].
Usage: This species can be grown as a hedge, the var. compactus is normally used[14].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species, a number of plants in this genus are suspected of being poisonous and so some caution is advised.
Also Known As: E. striatus.
Links
References
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ Gordon, A and D Rowe. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. 1982.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Ohwi, Jisaburo. Flora of Japan. Smithsonian Institution, 1965.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea. World Health Organisation, 1998.
- ↑ Shepherd, F. W.. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society, 1974.