|
Habitats
|
|
|
Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Ground Cover;
|
|
Edible Uses
|
|
Edible Parts: Flowers; Leaves.
Edible Uses: Tea.
Leaves - cooked. The parboiled leaves are used as a vegetable[183]. Some caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity. Flowers - sucked for their sweet nectar[183], used as a vegetable or made into a syrup and puddings[183]. A tea is made from the leaves, buds and flowers[177, 183].
|
|
|
|
|
Medicinal Uses
|
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antibacterial; Antiinflammatory; Antispasmodic; Antiviral; Depurative; Diuretic; Febrifuge; Skin; TB; VD.
The stems and flower buds are alterative, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, depurative, diuretic, febrifuge[147, 174, 176, 178, 238]. The plant is also used to reduce blood pressure[174, 176, 238]. The stems are used internally in the treatment of acute rheumatoid arthritis, mumps and hepatitis[238]. The stems are harvested in the autumn and winter, and are dried for later use[238]. The stems and flowers are used together as an infusion in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (including pneumonia) and dysentery[238]. An infusion of the flower buds is used in the treatment of a wide range of ailments including syphilitic skin diseases and tumours, bacterial dysentery, colds, enteritis, pain, swellings etc[174, 176, 218, 222, 238, 279]. Experimentally, the flower extracts have been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels and are antibacterial, antiviral and tuberculostatic[222, 279]. Externally, the flowers are applied as a wash to skin inflammations, infectious rashes and sores[238]. The flowers are harvested in early morning before they open and are dried for later use[238]. The plant has a similar action to Forsythia suspensa and is usually used in combination with that species to achieve a stronger action[176]. This plant has become a serious weed in many areas of N. America, it might have the potential to be utilized for proven medical purposes[222].
|
|
|
Other Uses
|
Basketry; Insecticide.
A very vigorous climbing plant, it makes a good dense ground cover plant where it has the space to run over the ground but it will swamp smaller plants[197, 200]. The sub-species L. japonica repens is especially used for this purpose on the continent[182]. The cultivar 'Halliana' has also been recommended[188, 197]. This cultivar should be clipped back severely in the spring if it gets untidy, it responds well to such conditions[208]. Plants should be spaced about 1 metre apart each way[208]. The plant is said to be insecticidal[218]. The stems have been used in making baskets[257].
|
|
|
Cultivation details
|
|
|
Prefers a good moist soil with its roots in the shade and its top climbing into the light[200]. Succeeds in any soil in part shade[184]. Established plants are drought tolerant[190]. They succeed in dry shade, the cultivar 'Halliana' is especially recommended for such a situation[188]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[184]. The foliage can be damaged in severe wind-chill conditions but the plant usually recovers in the spring[202]. Fruit is only formed after a hot summer[202]. A rampantly growing plant[190], it climbs by twining around other plants[182] and makes an excellent screen for a north or east facing fence or an unsightly object[190]. This species has the potential to become a rampant weed, it has escaped from cultivation in N. America whre it can outcompete native species[274]. The plant has powerfully scented flowers. The white-flowered cultivar 'Halliana' has a pronounced lemon-like perfume[245]. There are several named varieties, developed for their ornamental value[182, 200].
|
|
|
|
|
|
Propagation
|
|
|
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 2 months cold stratification[113] and should be sown as soon as possible in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on 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, 7 - 10cm with or without a heel, July/August in a frame. Good percentage[78]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm with or without a heel, November in a cold frame. Good percentage[78]. Layering in autumn[200].
|
 You can download this page as a PDF
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Botanical References
|
|
|
1158200
|
|
|
|
|
|
Links / References
|
|
|
|
[58]Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation)
|
|
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
|
|
|
[78]Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
|
|
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
|
|
|
[113]Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation.
|
|
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
|
|
|
[147]? A Barefoot Doctors Manual.
|
|
A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.
|
|
|
[174]Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
|
|
A good Japanese herbal.
|
|
|
[176]Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas.
|
|
An excellent Chinese herbal giving information on over 500 species. Rather technical and probably best suited to the more accomplished user of herbs.
|
|
|
[177]Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption.
|
|
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
|
|
|
[178]Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica.
|
|
A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating.
|
|
|
[182]Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.
|
|
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
|
|
|
[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
|
|
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
|
|
|
[184]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs.
|
|
Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1900 species and cultivars.
|
|
|
[188]Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers
|
|
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
|
|
|
[190]Chatto. B. The Dry Garden.
|
|
A good list of drought resistant plants with details on how to grow them.
|
|
|
[197]Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants.
|
|
A handy little booklet from the R.H.S.
|
|
|
[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
|
|
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
|
|
|
[202]Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs.
|
|
Contains information on 2,000 species and cultivars, giving details of cultivation requirements. The text is terse but informative.
|
|
|
[208]Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover
|
|
An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.
|
|
|
[218]Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China
|
|
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
|
|
|
[222]Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
|
|
A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
|
|
|
[238]Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
|
|
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
|
|
|
[245]Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World.
|
|
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
|
|
|
[257]Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany
|
|
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
|
|
|
[274]Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas
|
|
An excellent flora, which is also available on-line.
|
|
|
[279] Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea
|
|
An excellent book with terse details about the medicinal uses of the plants with references to scientific trials. All plants are described, illustrated and brief details of habitats given.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
QR Code
|
|
|
|
What's this?
|
|
This is a QR code (short for Quick Response) which gives fast-track access to our website pages. QR Codes are barcodes that can be read by mobile phone (smartphone) cameras. This QR Code is unique to this page. All plant pages have their own unique code. For more information about QR Codes click here.
|
|
1. Copy and print the QR code to a plant label, poster, book, website, magazines, newspaper etc and even t-shirts.
|
|
2. Smartphone users scan the QR Code which automatically takes them to the webpage the QR Code came from.
|
|
3. Smartphone users quickly have information on a plant directly for the pfaf.org website on their phone.
|
|
|
|
Rate This Plant
|
|
|
Please rate this plants for how successful you have found it to be. You will need to be logged in to do this. Our intention is not to create a list of 'popular' plants but rather to highlight plants that may be rare and unusual and that have been found to be useful by website users. This hopefully will encourage more people to use plants that they possibly would not have considered before.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Add a comment/link
|
|
|
If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at admin@pfaf.org. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.
* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.
|
Subject : Lonicera japonica
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|