Eleutherococcus spp.

Eleuthero

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Eleutherococcus spp. is a genus of about 30 species of deciduous, mostly prickly shrubs and small trees in the ivy family, native to eastern and central Asia, including Siberia, China, Korea, and Japan. Formerly known as Acanthopanax spp., the genus carries palmately compound leaves of three to five leaflets on stems that are often armed with slender prickles. Small greenish-white flowers open in rounded umbels in summer, followed by clusters of small black berries. Plants range from low, suckering shrubs to upright forms 4-10 feet (1.2-3 m) tall. E. sieboldianus is grown as an ornamental, including a white-edged variegated form, while E. senticosus, known as eleuthero or Siberian ginseng, is cultivated for its roots, used in herbal medicine as an adaptogen. The genus grows in full sun to part shade on a wide range of moist, well-drained soils and tolerates cold, urban conditions, shade, and poor ground. Plants are hardy to about USDA zone 4 and sucker to form thickets where unchecked. The prickly stems form a dense barrier, and the berries draw birds. Plants grow in difficult urban, cold, and shaded sites that limit more demanding shrubs.

Native Range

Native to eastern and central Asia, including eastern Russia, China, Korea, and Japan, in forests, thickets, and forest margins.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a barrier or screening shrub, in wildlife and woodland plantings, and on difficult urban or shaded sites. E. senticosus is also grown as a medicinal root crop. Suckering habit and prickles make some species unsuited to small or formal gardens.

How to Identify

Recognized by deciduous shrubs with palmately compound leaves of three to five leaflets and slender prickles along the stems. Rounded umbels of small greenish-white flowers give way to clusters of small black berries. Many forms sucker into thickets.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4' - 10'

Width/Spread4' - 10'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Summer

Small greenish-white flowers open in rounded umbels in summer, roughly June to July. The flowers are modest and followed by clusters of black berries in late summer and autumn. Bees and other insects visit the umbels.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green, some forms white-variegated

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 3-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun to part shade on most moist, well-drained soils, including poor and urban ground. They establish easily from container plants or suckers set out in spring or autumn and tolerate cold, pollution, and dry shade once rooted. Little feeding or watering is needed after establishment. Suckering species spread into thickets and are confined where space is limited. E. senticosus grown for its roots is given looser, fertile soil for root development. The genus is hardy to about USDA zone 4.

Pruning

Stems are thinned in late winter to remove old, crowded, or damaged wood and to control size. Suckers are dug out or cut back to limit spread. Plants tolerate hard renewal pruning and reshoot from the base.