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:

 

Eleutherococcus spinosus - (L.f.)S.Y.Hu.

Common Name
Family Araliaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known
Range E. Asia - China, C. Japan.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Eleutherococcus spinosus


Eleutherococcus spinosus

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Eleutherococcus spinosus is a deciduous Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft 10in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor 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. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

E. pentaphyllus. Acanthopanax spinosus.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Hedge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses: Tea

Leaves and young budlings - cooked[46, 61, 105, 116, 177]. The dried leaves are a tea substitute[105, 177]. Although we have no record of the seed being edible, it is said to contain 5.6 - 30.6% protein, 5.6 - 36.6% fat and 2.1 - 3.5% ash[218].

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.
Antirheumatic  Tonic

The cortex of the root is tonic and analgesic. It is used to treat general debility, rheumatic pains and many other complaints[178, 218]. A wine made from the root is considered to be a general tonic for restoring vigour and restoring sexual potency[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

Hedge  Hedge

Plants can be used as a hedge[200].

Special Uses

Hedge  Hedge

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a light warm open loamy humus-rich soil and a position sheltered from north and east winds[11, 200]. Prefers a well-drained soil and full sun[200]. Tolerates urban pollution and poor soils[200]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c if they are sheltered from cold winds[200]. Considered to be a part of E. sieboldianus by some botanists, but this species has smaller leaves[200]. It is closely related to and often confused with E. divaricatus[200]. There is a spineless form of this species, known as Eleutherococcus spinosus inermis (Makino) H. Ohashi[275].

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 - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame[200]. It can be slow to germinate. Stored seed requires 6 months warm followed by 3 months cold stratification[113] and can be very slow to germinate[133]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse for at least the first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[113, 200]. Cuttings of ripe wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 30cm long in a cold frame[238]. Root cuttings in late winter[200]. Division of suckers in the dormant season[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
Eleutherococcus chiisanensis Shrub0.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Eleutherococcus divaricatus Shrub3.5 5-9  LMHSNM20 
Eleutherococcus gracylistylusWu Jia PiShrub3.0 5-9  LMHSNM13 
Eleutherococcus innovansTaka-No-TsumeTree6.0 6-9  LMHNM10 
Eleutherococcus japonicus Shrub3.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Eleutherococcus senticosusSiberian GinsengShrub2.0 3-7 SLMHSNM25 
Eleutherococcus seoulensis Shrub0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus Shrub4.5 4-8  LMHSNM23 
Eleutherococcus sieboldianusUkogi, Five Leafed AraliaShrub3.0 4-8 SLMHSNM302
Eleutherococcus trifoliatus Shrub6.0 6-9  LMHSNM11 

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

(L.f.)S.Y.Hu.

Botanical References

200275

Links / References

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

Readers comment

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 : Eleutherococcus spinosus  
© 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.