Coriaria sinica
Family: Coriariaceae
What it is like
Coriaria sinica is a deciduous Shrub growing to 5 m (16ft 5in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 5
Where it is found
Grassy hills and river valleys to 1500 metres. Occasionally found at higher elevations in stony and arid areas.
E. Asia - China.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Fruit - raw or used as a beverage. As pleasant as bilberries. Use with great caution since most parts of the plant, including the seed, are probably very toxic and some reports suggest the fruit should not be used at all. The roots are antirheumatic. The plant is hallucinatory in small quantities.
Medicine
Rating: 1
The leaves are anodyne, antiphlogistic, febrifuge, depurative, poultice and vermifuge.
Anodyne: Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.
Antiphlogistic: Reduces inflammation.
Antirheumatic: Treats rheumatism.
Depurative: Eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood.
Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.
Hallucinogenic: Causes the mind to hallucinate.
Poultice: A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.
Vermifuge: Expels and kills internal parasites.
Vulnerary: Promotes the healing of wounds.
Other
Rating:
Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil
How it is grown
Prefers a fairly good loamy soil in a sunny sheltered position. Succeeds in light shade This species is not very hardy in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c though it can resprout from the base if cut back by the cold. This new growth does not flower in its first year. The roots of plants in this genus bear nitrogen-fixing nodules. Whilst much of the nitrogen will be utilized by the growing plant, some of it will become available for other plants growing nearby.
Propagating it: Seed - sow February/March in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c. 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, 7cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Fair percentage.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: 7-10
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
The seed is poisonous and so are the leaves. Although we have no more information, it is reasonable to assume that all other parts of the plant are also toxic.