Eleutherococcus sieboldianus
( el - ew - ther - oh - KOK - us see - bold - ee - AH - nus )
At-A-Glance InformationThis deciduous shrub can take sun or shade, and any amount of water, making it a great choice for any garden. Native to China and Japan, this shrub gets to 8-10 feet tall and as wide. Bright green leaves contrast with small white flowers in clusters, rarely followed by black berries. These shrubs are commonly called Five-Fingered Aralia or Fiveleaf Aralia. They can be grown in cottage gardens, for hedges or screening, and do well in woodland environments, as well.
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eleutherococcus sieboldianus Varietals
The genus Eleutherococcus (formerly known under the name Acanthopanax) is a member of the family Araliaceae and includes 38 species. This species grows best in zones 2b-10 and 14-17. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Caring for and pruning eleutherococcus sieboldianus shrubs
These shrubs are considered easy to care for; they commonly are used for garden spaces in which other plants have failed to thrive. They can be grown in a wide range of exposures, from full shade to full sun (full sun is best), and can perform well in a range of soils, as well, as long as it is well-draining. Prune to remove suckers and to maintain a handsome appearance and shape. These shrubs do not need to be fertilized; a yearly application of organic material amended into the soil is sufficient.
Propagation
Fiveleaf Aralia can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Eleutherococcus sieboldianus by Cutting
Propagating Eleutherococcus sieboldianus by Seed
Propagating Eleutherococcus sieboldianus by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Propagating Eleutherococcus sieboldianus by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds in September or October. They are contained inside the fruits produced by the shrub. Remove them from their fruits and set them aside in a dark, dry area.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Problems and Pests
These shrubs are generally pest and disease-free.
Gallery
Videos
Eleutherococcus sieboldianus 'Variegata'.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 300, Eleutherococcus sieboldianus
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