Description
An arching, woody shrub originally from south eastern Europe and Asia. The berries are an important crop in northern China.
It prefers moist but well drained soil in sun or semi-shade.
Flowers
The long stalked flowers are borne in the leaf axil in groups of 1-3. The calyx is a white tube crowned by 5-6 radial, triangular sepals. The sepals are purple above, whitish below with long protruding stamens.
Leaves
Elliptic oval leaf. Narrowly oval, sometimes with a rounded tip, in a cluster, each leaf 25 mm long; single leaves 55 mm long, alternate.
Fruits Seeds
Berry: the calyx splits open to form the oval berry, orange-red in colour.
Edible
Berry.
Medical
Berry, root and leaves: used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a multitude of health problems.