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Common Name:

General Information

Kadsura japonica is a Evergreen Climber up to 3.50 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - southern China, central and southern Japan.

Habitat

Climbs trees in woodlands[]. Forests and slopes at elevaions of 500 - 2000 metres in Fujian and Taiwan Provinces, China[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	3.50 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any fertile garden soil[]. Requires a sheltered position in a moderately fertile well-drained neutral to acid soil[]. Prefers a position in semi-shade[].
This species is not very hardy in Britain, though it succeeds when grown against a sunny wall in the milder areas of the country[].
The flowers emit a soft sweet perfume[].
Flowers are produced on the current year's growth[]. Plants do not really require pruning[].
Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if fruit and seed is required[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. The fruit is up to 6mm long[].

Medicinal

A decoction of the dried fruits is bechic, stomachic and tonic[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown when it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out in early summer and give some protection for their first winter outdoors.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame. Overwinter in the greenhouse and plant out in late spring[, ]. Good percentage[].
Layering of long shoots in the autumn[].