Chloranthus erectus
Chloranthus erectus
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
Succeeds in a range of habitats[1]. Flowering and fruiting starts when plants are 2 years old. At an age of 4 - 5 years, flowers and fruits are produced regularly throughout the year[1]. All parts of the plant are fragrant and aromatic, especially the leaves, stems and roots when crushed. Crushed roots and branches have a camphor-like smell and a slightly peppery and rather bitter taste[1]. Harvested parts of the plant can be dried and stored. The dried parts gradually lose their aroma, but roots keep their odour and taste for a very long time if dried quickly and stored carefully[1].
Propagation
Seed - Both seeds and cuttings of Chloranthus erectus are used for propagation. Optimal germination is obtained by using ripe seeds, dried in the shade, and with the testa removed. Seeds are sown directly in moist and shaded nursery beds and germination follows within a week. Seedlings are ready to be pricked out into individual pots about 2 months later. They are kept in a shaded nursery for another 2—3 weeks and subsequently planted out in the field. Field planting should take place in the wet season to avoid moisture stress. Cuttings 10—15 cm long are taken from internodes of branches with a diameter of about 5—8 mm. They should be placed in a shaded container or in a bin, and the soil and air should be kept moist by spraying. The cuttings are inserted in the planting medium to a depth of about 2 cm. Some growers use hormones such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) to stimulate root growth. After one week roots are about 1 cm long, and after 3 weeks the first pair of leaves have appeared. When 2—3 pairs of leaves have appeared, the plants are ready to be pricked out individually into pots. They need initial shade and are gradually hardened off before being planted out in the field. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Chloranthus+erectus>
Pollinators
Insects
References
- [1]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
- [2]Flora of China — Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. · 1994 · http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ ↩︎An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.