Common Name:

General Information

Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus is a vigorous, spreading, deciduous shrub or small tree that can grow up to 5 metres tall. The branches are sometimes armed with scattered prickles[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is cultivated for medicinal use in Korea and is also grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - Russian Far East, northern and eastern China, Korea

Habitat

Moist woods, wooded riverbanks, forest edges and clearings[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	4.50 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A very cold resistant plant[] if it is sheltered from cold winds, tolerating temperatures down to at least -15°c[].
Species in this genus are usually easy to grow and tolerant of a wide range of soils and conditions. They generally grow best in a well-drained, open loamy soil, succeeding in full sun to moderate shade[]. They tolerate poor soils and atmospheric pollution[].
A very ornamental plant[], though it spreads vigorously by means of suckers[].
This species is closely related to E. divaricatus[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked and used as a vegetable[, , ].
Old leaves are dried and used as a tea substitute[, , ].

A wine is made from the bark. It is highly fancied by the Chinese[]. It is probably used mainly for medicinal purposes[].

Medicinal

The root bark is adaptogenic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and diuretic[, , ]. It is used in Korea in the treatment of lumbago, neuralgia, arthritis and oedema[].
The root bark contains saponins, acanthosides, cardiac glycosides and polysaccharides[].

The roots and stems are traditionally used to tonify innate qi by strengthening the muscles and bones. The plant is used in oriental medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, and diabetes[].

Chiisanoside is one of the main medically active compounds in the plant and is reported to have anti-inflammatory, antihepatotoxic, antidiabetic, and antiviral activities[].
Trials have shown that extracts from the leaves are effective for treating hypoglycaemia and for improving fat metabolism due to diabetes[].

Other Uses

An extract of the callus is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an antioxidant[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame[]. It can be slow to germinate. Stored seed requires 6 months warm followed by 3 months cold stratification[] and can be very slow to germinate[]. 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, mid summer in a frame[, ].
Cuttings of ripe wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 30cm long in a cold frame[].
Root cuttings in late winter[].
Division of suckers in the dormant season[].