Common Name:

General Information

Clerodendrum cyrtophyllum is a shrub or a small tree that can grow from 1 - 10 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and sometimes as a food. It is sometimes grown as a medicinal plant ih home gardens of southern China[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Southeastern China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam.

Habitat

Shrub thickets on mountain slopes[]. Forests on mountain slopes or along streams, at elevations below 1,700 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Pollinators	Lepidoptera, Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Clerodendrum cyrtophyllum can be found from the warm temperate zone into the tropical areas of southern China. Plants are fairly cold resistant and, even if cut to the ground in severe weather will often resprout from the base, especially if they have been well mulched[, , ].
Succeeds in a sunny position in ordinary garden soil[, ] but prefers a fertile humus-rich well-drained soil[, ]. The soil must not be allowed to dry out in the growing season[]. Requires a position sheltered from cold drying winds[, ].
Flowers are produced on the current seasons growth and so, to encourage flowering, any pruning is best carried out when the plant is dormant[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - cooked[]. Eaten as a vegetable. The leaves have a bitter flavour and are eaten at least as much for their tonic affect upon the digestive system as for any appeal to the taste buds[].

Medicinal

The leaves and roots are antipyretic, depurative, diuretic[, ]. They have an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Bacillus dysenteriae, Meningococcus and spirochaetes[]. They are prescribed for mothers, after having given birth, in order to restore their appetite[].

A decoction of the whole plant is used in the treatment of gastroenteritis, pharyngitis, fever and bacillary dysentery[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as possible in a greenhouse. Germination can be erratic but usually takes place within 20 - 60 days at 20°c[]. 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 late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts.
Root cuttings, 6 - 8cm long, December in a greenhouse. High percentage[].
Division of suckers in the dormant season. Very easy, they can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.