Chengiopanax sciadophylloides ("Koshiabura")

Japanese name: コシアブラ
Scientific name: Chengiopanax sciadophylloides

[Overview]
A deciduous tree 7–10 m tall, found in beech forests and similar places in the mountains.
The leaves are alternate and palmately compound, with 5 leaflets.
The leaflets are obovate to obovate-oblong, 10–20 cm long and 4–9 cm wide, with awn-tipped teeth on the margins.
The terminal leaflet is the largest.
The leaves turn pale yellow in autumn.
The petiole is 10–20 cm long.
Panicle-like to umbel-like inflorescences appear at the tips of the current year's shoots.
The flowers are pale yellowish green with 5 petals, each about 1.5 mm long.
The fruit is a spherical berry about 4 mm in diameter that ripens black.

[Uses]
The young shoots are fragrant and can be eaten as wild vegetables (sansai).
The wood is soft and is made into folding fans (sensu) and matchsticks.
An oil called ‘gold lacquer’ is obtained from the resin and is said to have been used as a coating for crafts.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by root cuttings.
It prefers bright shade and fertile, well-drained soil.
It dislikes dryness and strong afternoon sun in summer.
Water just enough to keep it from drying out.
In February–March, apply slow-release fertilizer.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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