Herb latin name: Eleutherococcus divaricatus


Synonyms: Acanthopanax divaricatus, Panax divaricatus


Family: Araliaceae (Ginseng Family)



Edible parts of Eleutherococcus divaricatus:

Leaves - cooked. They are parboiled, then dried and used as a winter vegetable. The leaves are used as a condiment. The dried leaves are a tea substitute.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Deciduous
Shrub

Height:
3.5 m
(11 feet)

Flowering:
August to
September

Habitat of the herb:

A rather rare plant, growing in the mountains all over Japan.

Propagation of Eleutherococcus divaricatus:

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. It can be slow to germinate. Stored seed requires 6 months warm followed by 3 months cold stratification and can be very slow to germinate. 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. Cuttings of ripe wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 30cm long in a cold frame. Root cuttings in late winter. Division of suckers in the dormant season.

Cultivation of the herb:

A rather rare plant, growing in the mountains all over Japan.

Medicinal use of Eleutherococcus divaricatus:

None known

Known hazards of Eleutherococcus divaricatus:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.