Herb latin name: Hydrangea aspera


Family: Hydrangeaceae



Edible parts of Hydrangea aspera:

The leaves are used as a tea substitute. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Deciduous
Shrub

Height:
4 m
(13 feet)

Flowering:
July to
September

Habitat of the herb:

Scrub and forest in the mountains, 1200 - 2700 metres from Uttar Pradesh to S.W. China and Burma. Dense forests or thickets in valleys or on mountain slopes.

Propagation of Hydrangea aspera:

Seed - surface sow in a greenhouse in spring. Cover the pot with paper until the seed germinates. 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, 8cm long, July/August in a frame. Overwinter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring. Cuttings of mature wood in late autumn in a frame. Mound layering in spring. Takes 12 months. Leaf-bud cuttings of the current seasons growth in a frame.

Cultivation of the herb:

Scrub and forest in the mountains, 1200 - 2700 metres from Uttar Pradesh to S.W. China and Burma. Dense forests or thickets in valleys or on mountain slopes.

Medicinal use of Hydrangea aspera:

None known

Known hazards of Hydrangea aspera:

There is a report that the fresh plant contains the toxin hydrogen cyanide. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.