Euptelea pleiosperma

Euptelea pleiosperma is a deciduous tree in the Eupteleaceae family. It can also grow as a shrub. Its native range runs from Bhutan to central and southern China. Records also place it in northeast India. It comes from temperate parts of Asia. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In China, it grows in thickets and along open woodland edges. It also grows near streams in Sichuan. Valley forests provide another home for this species.

This tree reaches about 30 feet [9 metres] in cultivation. It sheds its leaves for winter. Its wild habitats span a broad range of heights. Records place it from 2,950 to 11,810 feet [900–3,600 metres] above sea level. These include wooded valleys as well as more open sites. A woodland garden or shrub border can suit it. Give it an open position rather than a deeply shaded corner.

The flowers appear in May, according to Plants For A Future. Each flower has both male and female organs. Seeds ripen from August to September. These dates give a guide to its yearly cycle in cultivation. For seed propagation, sow fresh seed in a cold frame. Move seedlings into their own pots once large enough to handle. Keep them in a greenhouse through at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after frost risk passes. Layering offers another way to raise new plants.

Choose moist soil and a site with full sun. The tree can also grow in light woodland shade. Plants For A Future favours moderately rich soil that drains freely. It accepts sandy, loamy and clay soils. It also tolerates mildly acid, neutral and mildly alkaline ground. Its listed USDA hardiness range is zones 5–9. Plants For A Future also lists UK zone 6. That rating should not be confused with the RHS hardiness scale.

The leaves have a recorded use as cooked food. This is a famine use, rather than a routine crop. Plants For A Future gives it a low food-use rating. The same source lists no known medicinal or other practical uses. It reports no known hazards, but that does not establish safety for pets. It also records no weed potential.