We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Alangium chinense - (Lour.)Harms.

Common Name
Family Alangiaceae
USDA hardiness 8-11
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Upland thickets in W. China[147]. Open places around villages at elevations of 300 - 2400 metres in Nepal[272].
Range E. Asia - India to C. China
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Alangium chinense


Alangium chinense

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Alangium chinense is an evergreen Tree growing to 8 m (26ft 3in) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from August to November. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
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 cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

A begoniifolia. Marlea begoniifolia. Stylidium chinense.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Secondary;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Oil
Edible Uses: Oil

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.
Blood tonic  Carminative  Contraceptive

This plant is commonly used in Chinese herbalism, where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs[218]. The roots and the stems are a blood tonic, carminative and contraceptive[147]. They are used in the treatment of rheumatism, numbness, traumatic injuries, wounds and snakebites[147]. A decoction of the leafy shoots is said to be tonic[218]. A paste of the roots is applied to the area around dislocated bones to help them setting[272]. The shoot, rootbark and whole plant are all used medicinally[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Oil

An oil extracted from the seeds is used for lighting lamps[272].

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any moderately fertile well-drained soil[200]. Requires full sun and a sheltered position[200]. Not very frost tolerant[200], this species is likely to be on the borderlines of hardiness even if obtained from its higher provenances[11]. However, although the top growth will be killed back in all but the mildest winters, the plant will usually resprout from the base in the spring and will usually flower in the summer[245]. These flowers are sweetly scented[245]. This species is closely related to A. platinifolium[200]. Although a fair sized tree in its native habitat, it is unlikely to make more than a shrub more than 2 metres tall in Britain[245]. It does not require pruning[245].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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

Fahrenheit:

image

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, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in the spring. When 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 in early summer and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in sand in a frame[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

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
Alangium platanifoliumAlangiumShrub3.0 6-10  LMHNM111

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.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

(Lour.)Harms.

Botanical References

11200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Dr. T. N. Shivananda   Mon May 29 2006

I have gone through this web page and gives very useful information on Alangium. I am very much impressed about the information on medicinal preperties and propagation techniques. Dr. T. N. Shivananda Sr. Scientist Indian Inst. Horticultural Research Bangalore 560 089 INDIA

Dr. H.N.Shivaprasad   Fri Dec 15 2006

Information provided by this web page on Alangium chinense is impressive and very informative Dr. H.N.Shivaprasad Asst. Manager - R & D Natural Remedies Pvt Ltd Bangalore-560100

Dr Brijesh Kumar Tiwari   Sat Mar 17 2007

i am very much happy to see this web page providing the information about cultivavation and collection of Alangium chinensis

nicholas muema   Tue Sep 30 2008

Am very happy with this information. The olant is growing everywhwre but no one is aware that it is this valuable

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Alangium chinense  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.