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Euphorbiaceae FAMILY

Neoshirakia japonica

Neoshirakia japonica

Edibility
1/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

The sap is poisonous[1].

Cultivation Details

HabitDeciduous Shrub
Growth—

Neoshirakia japonica is found in the warm temperate to subtropical regions of southern and eastern China, where it can be found in hardiness zones from 7 - 10. It is not very hardy in regions of the Temperate zone with cold winters, though it is known to tolerate several degrees of frost and has been grown successfully against a sunny wall in southern parts of Britain[1]. A specimen seen growing outdoors at Hilliers Arboretum in Hampshire, England - but in the shade of other trees - was carrying a heavy crop of unripe seeds in September 1994[PFAF]. Succeeds in a sunny position in any well-drained fertile soil[1]. Requires the protection of a south or south-west facing wall when grown in areas at the limits of its hardiness[1].

Propagation

Seed - do not cold stratify the seed since this can lead to secondary dormancy. Sown in mid spring in a warm greenhouse, it usually germinates within 4 weeks[2]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Overwinter in a greenhouse for at least their first 2 winters and plant out in late spring. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Neoshirakia+japonica>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  2. [2]The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. — Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. · Athens Ga. Varsity Press · 1987 · ISBN 0942375009 ↩︎A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
  3. [3]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.
  4. [4]Flora of Japan. (English translation) — Ohwi. G. · Smithsonian Institution · 1965 · ISBN - ↩︎The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
  5. [5]Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World. — Tanaka. T. & Nakao S. · Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo · 1976 · ISBN - ↩︎The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
  6. [6]Plants for Human Consumption. — Kunkel. G. · Koeltz Scientific Books · 1984 · ISBN 3874292169 ↩︎An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
  7. [7]Poisonous Plants of North Carolina — http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm ↩︎An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes.
  8. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎