Plant DetailShow Menu

Eleutherococcus Eleutherococcus henryi

Phonetic Spelling
el-ew-ther-oh-KOK-us HEN-ree-eye
Description

Eleutherococcus is a shrub native to China in the Araliaceae family. In its native habitat it can be found growing in fields, forest, along roadsides and on mountain slopes.  It can grow up to 12 feet tall with stout stems and down-curved prickles. The leaves are compound and composed of 5 leaflets. The tiny white flowers occur in terminal umbels. The round berry is black and persistent on the shrub.

This shrub is used in Chinese medicine and can be difficult to find.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#black#deciduous#medicinal#air pollution tolerant#sprawling#poor soils tolerant#chinese medicine#prickles
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#black#deciduous#medicinal#air pollution tolerant#sprawling#poor soils tolerant#chinese medicine#prickles
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Eleutherococcus
    Species:
    henryi
    Family:
    Araliaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used in Chinese medicine
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central & South China
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    air pollution and poor soil
    Climbing Method:
    Scrambler
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
    Appendage:
    Prickles
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Black persistent round fruits
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are in a terminal cluster 1-2 inches long on a hairy stem. Individual flowers are tiny and white.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Obovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The compound leaves have 5 oval to obovate leaflets 1 1⁄2 to 3 1⁄2 in. long, 3⁄4 to 1 1⁄2 in. wide. Margins are finely toothed and both ends tapering. The under surface has hairs.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Brown branches have hairs when young and down-turned prickles
  • Landscape:
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Pollution
    Poor Soil