Medicinal Uses

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit | Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or used as a beverage[1, 11, 105]. The seed must not be eaten. Use with great caution since most parts of the plant, including the seed, are probably toxic and some reports suggest the fruit should not be used at all. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[200].

Cultivation

Succeeds in any good soil[233], though it prefers a fairly good loamy soil in full sun or light shade[11, 164, 200]. Requires a sunny sheltered position[164, 233]. This species is one of the hardiest members of the genus, tolerating temperatures down to at least -5°c if sheltered from cold winds[200]. Plants are hardy from Sussex westwards[1]. It is hardy at Kew where it fruits annually and resprouts from the base if cut back in severe winters[11, 200]. Plants flower and fruit at the tips of the current years growth and so can produce fruit even if they have been cut to the ground[182, K]. They can fruit well even when young, plants growing with us flowered and fruited in their third year from seed[K]. When well sited, suckers can be produced at some distance from the parent plant[233, K]. The roots of plants in this genus bear nitrogen-fixing nodules[218]. Whilst much of the nitrogen will be utilized by the growing plant, some of it will become available for other plants growing nearby[K].

Known Hazards

The seed may be poisonous[1]. Although we have no more information, it is reasonable to assume that other parts of the plant are also toxic.

Habitats

Thickets and woodland margins, 2000 - 2600 metres in W. China[109].