Herb: Hua Sang


Latin name: Morus cathayana


Family: Moraceae (Mulberry Family)



Edible parts of Hua Sang:

Fruit - raw or cooked. The fruit is about 25mm in diameter.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Deciduous
Tree

Height:
15 m
(49 feet)

Flowering:
May to
June

Habitat of the herb:

Woodlands and sides of streams, 600 - 1300 metres in W. Hupeh. Sunny slopes or valleys, high mountains at elevations of 900 - 1300 metres.

Propagation of Hua Sang:

The seed germinates best if given 2 - 3 months cold stratification. Sow the seed as soon as it is ripe if possible, otherwise in February in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in the first spring, though it sometimes takes another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Plant out in spring. A good percentage take, though they sometimes fail to thrive. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 25 - 30cm with a heel of 2 year old wood, autumn or early spring in a cold frame or a shady bed outside. Bury the cuttings to threequarters of their depth. Layering in autumn.

Cultivation of the herb:

Woodlands and sides of streams, 600 - 1300 metres in W. Hupeh. Sunny slopes or valleys, high mountains at elevations of 900 - 1300 metres.

Medicinal use of Hua Sang:

None known

Known hazards of Morus cathayana:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.