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Common Name:

General Information

Leucothoe grayana is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 1.20 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials..

Known Hazards

The fruit is poisonous[].

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan.

Habitat

Moist ground[]

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	1.20 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a lime-free well-drained humus-rich soil and some shade[, ]. Requires a moist peaty soil or a sandy loam with added leafmold[].
Plants are tolerant of transplanting, which is best carried out in the autumn[].
The flowers are produced on the current years growth[].
A number of named forms have been developed in Japan for their ornamental value[].
This species is not mentioned in the 'Flora of China' and so must be considered very doubtfully native there[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Antipruritic[].

Other Uses

A parasiticide is obtained from the plant (No details are given as to which part). It is also used in the treatment of itch and ringworm[].

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in a shady part of the greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination is variable. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade 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.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, August in a frame. Fair to good percentage[].
Layering in autumn. Takes 12 months. Very high percentage[].