Coptis quinquefolia var. quinquefolia ("Baikaoren")

Japanese name: バイカオウレン （梅花黄連）
Scientific name: Coptis quinquefolia var. quinquefolia

[Overview]
An evergreen perennial 2–15 cm tall, found in temperate deciduous forests and in and at the edges of subalpine coniferous forests.
It reaches 20 cm in height at the fruiting stage.
The rhizome is slender and creeping, and produces stolons.
The leaves are basal and palmately compound with 5 leaflets; they are somewhat thick, with a glossy surface and raised veins.
The leaflets are broadly obovate to rhombic, 0.4–3 cm long, with a wedge-shaped base narrowing, 3-lobed at the top, with sharp serrations on the margin; the leaflet stalks are indistinct.
The petiole is 2–9 cm long.
The flowers are solitary at the tip of the flower stalk, white, 0.8–2 cm across, with 5 conspicuous petal-like sepals radiating outward.
The petals are small, yellow and spoon-shaped.
There are many stamens.
The fruits are follicles 0.5–0.7 cm long with a stalk about 0.5 cm long, arranged in a ring.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
Sow seed immediately after it is collected.
It prefers a fertile, well-drained, moderately moist soil in a place that is sunny in winter to spring and partially shaded in summer to autumn.
It dislikes dry north winds in winter and dry ground.
When planting in the ground, it is best planted under a tree.
Water thoroughly when the soil surface begins to dry.
Apply diluted liquid fertilizer once every 2 weeks in spring and autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

View this page in Japanese (日本語)