Ginseng, Siberian
Eleutherococcus senticosus
Family: Araliaceae
Herbaceous perennial with spiny stem and clusters of blue-black berries.
Native to North Korea, northern China and Siberia. Classic adaptogen.
The extract of the root helps you adapt to stress, whether emotional, environmental
or physical. Native of cold northern lakeshores and woods, we have
found that here in Southern Oregon this plant grows best in the deep woods
where there is rich soil and plenty of water. Under these conditions,
it will not only flower and bear fruit in the third year, but it will begin
to send out invasive underground stolons and establish its own plantation.
In general, Eleutherococcus grows well in ecologies which support
native stands of Aralia racemosa, Aralia californica, Aralia spinosa
or Oplopanax horridus. In the cold north, it survives and
thrives very well in open field cultivation. Cultivation:
Challenging. Break seed out of dried berries. Sow seed in flats left down
in the woods where it is shady and moist. If the soil begins to dry
out in the summer, you will have to water it. Expect sporadic germination
during spring or fall of the ensuing 3 years. Plant 2 feet apart,
grows (slowly) to 12 feet.
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