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Lithospermum erythrorhizon - Siebold.&Zucc.

Common Name Lithospermum
Family Boraginaceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Grassy slopes in mountains and hills all over Japan[58].
Range E. Asia - Eastern China, Japan and Korea.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Lithospermum erythrorhizon Lithospermum


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Doronenko
Lithospermum erythrorhizon Lithospermum
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Doronenko

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Lithospermum erythrorhizon is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.7 m (2ft 4in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. 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.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antitumor  Contraceptive  Depurative  Eczema  Febrifuge  Salve

All parts of the plant are antitumor, cardiotonic, contraceptive, depurative and febrifuge[147, 174, 176, 218, 238]. It is used internally in the treatment of irritant skin conditions, measles, chicken pox, boils, carbuncles, hepatitis and skin cancer[238]. Externally it is used to treat nappy rash, burns, cuts, wounds, abscesses, eczema and haemorrhoids[147, 174, 176, 218, 238]. The plant is an ingredient of commercial skin care creams[238]. The plants are harvested when in flower, the roots in the autumn[238]. They are dried for later use[238].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

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Other Uses

Dye

A purple dye is obtained from the root[46, 61, 218]. It is harvested in the spring[178]. It is much liked but the colour is fugitive and production costs high[174].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a warm sunny position in a moderately fertile well-drained soil[1, 200]. Prefers a neutral to alkaline soil and also succeeds in partial shade[238]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[238]. This species is cultivated in Japan[46] (as a dye plant?).

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings. Division in the autumn[238].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Russian Federation (Kurile Islands, Sakhalin), China (Gansu Sheng (southeast), Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (north), Guizhou Sheng, Hebei Sheng, Henan Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Hunan Sheng, Jiangxi Sheng, Liaoning Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng, Shandong Sheng, Shanxi Sheng, Sichuan Sheng), Korea, Japan (Hokkaidô, Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Lithospermum canescensPaint Indian, Hoary puccoonPerennial0.2 3-7  LMNDM111
Lithospermum carolinienseHairy Puccoon, Carolina puccoonPerennial1.0 5-9  LMNDM011
Lithospermum incisumNarrow-Leaf Gromwell, Narrowleaf stoneseedPerennial0.3 3-7  LMNDM121
Lithospermum multiflorumManyflowered Gromwell, Manyflowered stoneseedPerennial0.5 3-7  LMNDM111
Lithospermum officinaleGromwell, European stoneseedPerennial0.8 5-9  LMHSNM121
Lithospermum ruderaleWestern Gromwell, Western StoneseedPerennial0.8 4-8  LMHNDM122

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Siebold.&Zucc.

Botanical References

58266

Links / References

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