Lindera obtusiloba |
Native Region: Japan; China
Zone Range: 6-9
Preferred Climate: Semi sun; open woodland; well draining humus rich soil.
Harvest Date: Saturday 04 October, 2008
Seed count: 25-30
Description:
This near cousin of Sassafras shares many of the same traits in leaf, flower and scent, but its wide spreading sinuous form is truly unique. In late winter, clusters of small star shaped bright yellow spicy fragrant flowers adorn the bare branches. The Sassafras like fragrant leaves start life a pink-ish, turn a lovely blue-green by late spring, and turn a vivid golden glowing yellow in autumn. Berries ripen from green to red to near black and taken by many species of birds before most fruits. Give this multistemmed under story shrub some room as it might only reach 3 meters in height, but the spread is easily twice this.
Notes:
Flowers on previous year's growth so prune only after flowering. Gendered species (like most members of this plant Family)
Cultivation:
Soak seed 12-18 hours. Cold stratify 3-5 months. Sow 5mm deep. Provide gentle heat (18-22C) to germinate once cold stratification period is over. Sow thinly. Don't let dry out nor let medium become overy damp. Provide seedlings good light and don't let them get chilled. We've had seedlings emerge the following spring. Don't let medium become too wet during stratification process.
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