Common Name:

General Information

Viburnum japonicum is a sturdy, evergreen shrub or small tree that can grow up to 6 metres tall, though is usually smaller in cultivation[, , ].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - central and southern Japan

Habitat

Coastal thickets and forests; at elevations from 5 - 500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	4.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Viburnum japonicum is a plant of warm temperate to subtropical regions. It has been successfully cultivated at Kew Botanic Gardens in England (hardiness zone 7 - 8), though struggles somewhat and would do better in a warmer climate. In such a situation it is slow-growing, and would probably do best if given a warm position against a sunny wall[].
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils but is ill-adapted for poor soils and for dry situations[]. It prefers a deep rich loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[, ]. Requires woodland conditions but without competition from other plants. Best if given shade from the early morning sun in spring[].
Plants are self-incompatible and need to grow close to a genetically distinct plant in the same species in order to produce fruit and fertile seed[, ].
A foetid smelling plant[], but the flowers are very fragrant with a jonquil-like scent[, ].
This species is closely related to Viburnum odoratissimum[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, ]. The red, ovoid fruit is about 8mm long and contains a single large seed[].

Leaves - cooked. A famine food, they are only used when all else fails[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Germination can be slow, sometimes taking more than 18 months. If the seed is harvested 'green' (when it has fully developed but before it has fully ripened) and sown immediately in a cold frame, it should germinate in the spring[]. Stored seed will require 2 months warm then 3 months cold stratification and can still take 18 months to germinate[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame or greenhouse. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of soft-wood, early summer in a frame[]. Pot up into individual pots once they start to root and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8 cm long with a heel if possible, mid summer in a frame[, ]. Plant them into individual pots as soon as they start to root. These cuttings can be difficult to overwinter, it is best to keep them in a greenhouse or cold frame until the following spring before planting them out[].
Cuttings of mature wood, winter in a frame. They should root in early spring - pot them up when large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer if sufficient new growth is made, otherwise keep them in a cold frame for the next winter and then plant them out in the spring.
Layering of current seasons growth in mid summer. Takes 15 months[].