Promising Plants Profiles

Eleutherococcus senticosus

Genus: Eleutherococcus
Specific Epithet: senticosus
Common Name: Siberian ginseng
Family: Araliaceae

Flower color: purple-lilac (males), green (females)
Form: deciduous shrub
Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Soil: rich, moist but well-drained soil
Sun: full sun or partial shade

Uses: culinary, medicinal

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Eleutherococcus senticosus,
Siberian ginseng

Siberian ginseng is much easier to grow than Oriental ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), but it is oddly uncommon in cultivation. I paid a great deal for my original plant, treated it with kid gloves (it is horribly prickly), only to find it spreads happily and not too aggressively, by underground runners. It is as tough as old rope! Since it is the roots that are used as a tonic, a little excessive spreading is welcome.
– Deni Bown, Promising Plants Presentation, 2003

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