Japanese eurya is an evergreen shrub from Japan, Korea, and China whose tiny spring flowers have a strong, unpleasant smell. It isn't native to the United States, but it's occasionally grown in mild-winter gardens as a glossy-leaved hedge or accent shrub; in eastern Japan, its branches are used as offerings in Shinto rituals. It's also sold as East Asian eurya.
Appearance
- Growth form
- Evergreen shrub or small tree, usually about 3–12 ft (1–3.5 m) tall in gardens.
- Leaves
- Thick, leathery, glossy dark green leaves about 1–3 in (3–8 cm) long, with finely toothed edges.
- Flowers
- Tiny, cream-colored, bell-shaped flowers hang in the in early to mid spring. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Many people find the scent unpleasant.
- Fruit
- Small, dark blue-black berries about the size of a peppercorn ripen in fall, but only on female plants with a male nearby.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Hillside forests
- Range
- Native to Japan, Korea, and eastern China. Not native to the U.S.
Growing it
- Care
- Hardy in USDA zones 8–11. Grows in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil, and should be sheltered from cold, drying winter winds. Easy to root from cuttings and takes pruning well. The low, spreading cultivar 'Moutiers' is said to have larger, better-smelling flowers.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
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