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Common Name:

General Information

Epigaea asiatica is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 0.10 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - C. and N. Japan.

Habitat

Open woods in the mountains[]. In forest margins at elevations of 100 - 1700 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.10 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires an open lime-free humus-rich soil and shade from direct sunlight[, ], succeeding also in deep shade[]. Grows well in the shade of rhododendrons and other calcifuge shrubs[].
A difficult plant to grow in cultivation[], though it is easier than E. repens[].
The flower buds require a period of chilling to about 2°c before they will open[]. The flowers are sweetly scented[]. They are produced in terminal racemes on the previous year's shoots[].

Edible Uses

Fruit[, , ]. No more details are given. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A ground cover plant for a shady position[], forming a carpet of growth[]. Plants should be spaced about 25cm apart each way[]. This species is probably not very worthwhile for ground cover in Britain because of its difficulty to cultivate[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a cold frame[]. Another report says that the seed requires no pre-treatment and can be sown in late winter in a cold frame[]. Surface sow and place the pot in light shade, do not allow it to dry out[]. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 5 weeks[]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, pot up the seedlings into individual pots. Be very careful since they strongly resent root disturbance. Grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse and plant them out in their permanent positions in the late spring of their second years growth.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[].Take the cutting with a part of the previous year's growth[]. (This report is unclear as to whether it means a heel of older wood or just a small section of older wood[])
Plants self-layer and can be divided in the spring but this must be done with great care since they deeply resent root disturbance[].