Eleutherococcus nodiflorus

Family: Araliaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 3 m high. It can be a climber. The branches are slender and can hang down. There are a few short prickles. The leaves have 5 leaflets that are broadly sword shaped and 3-8 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The flowers are in groups in the axils of leaves on short shoots. The fruit are round and black and 6 mm across.

There are about 20 Acanthopanax species. They are deciduous trees from temperate Asia. It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It can grow in a range of soils and also in poor soils. It can tolerate light shade. It is best in moist soils. It suits hardiness zone 6. In XTBG Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Korea, Taiwan

How it is used for food

Flowers edible and used in wine making.

Edible parts

Flowers

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Wu jia pi, Xo zhu

Synonyms

Acanthopanax gracilistylus W. W. Sm.; Acanthopanax hondae Matsuda; Acanthopanax nodiflorus Dunn; Aralia scandens Poir.; Eleurtherococcus gracilistylus var. nodiflorus (Dunn) H. Ohashi; Hedera scandens (Poir.) DC.; and others