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Common Name:

General Information

Disporum smilacinum is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.50 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.

Habitat

Woods in hilly country and foothills all over Japan[]. Forests from near sea level to 400 metres, occasionally to 1600 metres. in NE Shandong, China[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
Best grown in partial shade in a moist peaty or woodland soil[, ].
Plants spread well by means of creeping rhizomes when they are grown in a leafy soil[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - cooked[, ].
Bulb[, ]. No further details are given.

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[]. Use a lime-free compost and keep it moist[]. Stored seed requires 6 weeks cold stratification and should be sown as early in the year as possible[]. Germination usually takes place within 3 - 6 months or more at 15°c[]. 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.
Division in spring[].