In the treatment by King and Robinson (Monogr. Syst. Bot. 22: 1-581. 1987) Eupatorium japonicum Thunb., was treated as a synonym of Eupatorim chinense L. Whilst this treatment has been accepted by some, others (such as 'The Flora of China[]') have maintained the two taxa as distinct - a treatment we are following here.

Common Name:

General Information

Eupatorium chinense is a plant of variable habit, ranging from a herbaceous perennial to a small shrub. It produces a number of well-branched stems that are woody at least in their lower part; the plant ranging in height from 50 - 250cm, but more commonly 100cm or less[].
The plant is gathered from the wild, mainly for medicinal purposes.

Known Hazards

This plant is poisonous, especially the leaves, but it is used medicinally to treat large carbuncles, scabies, poisonous snake bites, and to alleviate pain[].

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam.

Habitat

Mountains all over Japan. Open and deforested areas at elevations of 2,000 - 2,600 metres in Nepal[]. Forest margins on slopes, forests, thickets or grasslands on slopes at elevations of 200 - 1,900 metres in China[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Eupatorium chinense is a plant of warm temperate to tropical areas.
Succeeds in ordinary well-drained but moisture retentive garden soil in sun or part shade[].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].
A polymorphic species[].

Edible Uses

The young leaves are used as a flavouring[, ]. Some caution is required, see notes above on toxicity[].

The powdered plant is used in Nepal to prepare marcha, a fermenting cake from which liquor is distilled[].

Medicinal

This plant is poisonous, especially the leaves, but it is used medicinally to treat large carbuncles, scabies, poisonous snake bites, and to alleviate pain[].
The leaves are anodyne, carminative, diuretic, nervine and vermifuge[]. An infusion is used in the treatment of colds, diphtheria and rheumatoid arthritis[]. The leaves and stems are harvested in the summer before the flower buds open, and are dried for later use[].

The seed is prescribed in China for the '36 diseases of women'[].

The root is considered to be beneficial to the circulation and a restorative to women after parturition[]. The roots are harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[].

The milky latex is applied to treat goitre[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Often planted as an ornamental hedge[].

Other Uses

The fragrant leaves are used to perfume hair and clothes[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer.
Division in spring or autumn[]. Very easy, the clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions.