Rhodotypos scandens ("Shiroyamabuki")

Japanese name: シロヤマブキ （白山吹）
Scientific name: Rhodotypos scandens

[Overview]
A deciduous shrub 0.5–2 m tall.
Young branches are green and at first have soft white hairs.
Leaves are simple and opposite, ovate, 4–11 cm long and 3–6 cm wide, with conspicuous veins.
The underside of the leaf has many appressed soft white hairs, and the leaf margins are doubly toothed.
There are linear stipules.
The petiole is 2–5 mm long.
The flowers are borne singly at the tips of new branches and are white with 4 petals, 3–4 cm across.
The fruits are achenes, 4 per flower, ripening black and glossy.

[Uses]
The fruit and roots are used medicinally.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
It is easy to grow.
It prefers fertile soil that is sunny, well drained and moderately moist.
It also grows in partial shade.
Avoid places that receive strong afternoon sun.
Avoid dry places, or use mulch or similar to keep the base of the plant from drying out.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless summer brings a long spell of sunny weather and the soil becomes severely dry.
In addition to a base fertilizer, apply organic fertilizer around the plant as fertilizer in winter.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

[Notes]
The Japanese name comes from its resemblance to Yamabuki, but it belongs to a different group from Yamabuki.

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