Herb latin name: Epigaea asiatica


Synonyms: Parapyrola asiatica


Family: Ericaceae (Heath Family)



Edible parts of Epigaea asiatica:

Fruit. No more details are given. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Evergreen
Shrub

Height:
10 cm
(4 inches)

Flowering:
April
to May

Scent:
Scented
Shrub

Habitat of the herb:

Open woods in the mountains. In forest margins at elevations of 100 - 1700 metres.

Other uses of Epigaea asiatica:

A ground cover plant for a shady position, forming a carpet of growth. Plants should be spaced about 25cm apart each way. This species is probably not very worthwhile for ground cover in Britain because of its difficulty to cultivate.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a cold frame. Another report says that the seed requires no pre-treatment and can be sown in late winter in a cold frame. Surface sow and place the pot in light shade, do not allow it to dry out. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 5 weeks. As soon as they are large enough to handle, pot up the seedlings into individual pots. Be very careful since they strongly resent root disturbance. Grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse and plant them out in their permanent positions in the late spring of their second years growth. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame.Take the cutting with a part of the previous year's growth. (This report is unclear as to whether it means a heel of older wood or just a small section of older wood) Plants self-layer and can be divided in the spring but this must be done with great care since they deeply resent root disturbance.

Cultivation of Epigaea asiatica:

Open woods in the mountains. In forest margins at elevations of 100 - 1700 metres.

Medicinal use of the herb:

None known

Known hazards of Epigaea asiatica:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.