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Helwingia chinensis - Batalin.

Common Name
Family Cornaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Thickets, 1300 - 2300 metres in W. Szechwan[109]. Mixed woods and thickets on slopes, broad-leaved forests, at elevations of 1000 - 2600 metres[266].
Range E. Asia - W. China.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade
Helwingia chinensis


http://flickr.com/photos/scottzona/
Helwingia chinensis
http://flickr.com/photos/scottzona/

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Helwingia chinensis is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). . The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Leaves
Edible Uses:

The flowers and leaves might be edible[177].

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.
Skin

A decoction of the leaves and the bark are ingested for treating skin inflammations[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1]. Requires a sheltered position beneath a good tree canopy cover[200]. Plants are not very hardy outdoors in Britain, only thriving in milder areas of the country where winter temperatures do not fall below about -7°c[200]. The flowers are produced on the midribs of the leaves[200]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

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 - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in late winter. 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, July/August in a frame.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Gansu Sheng (south), Guizhou Sheng, Hubei Sheng (west), Hunan Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng (south), Sichuan Sheng, Yunnan Sheng)

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
Helwingia himalaica Shrub2.5 -  LMHFSM10 
Helwingia japonica Shrub1.5 7-10  LMHSNM10 
Helwingia liukiuensis Shrub1.5 -  LMHFSM10 

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

Batalin.

Botanical References

109200266

Links / References

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

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Subject : Helwingia chinensis  
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