Scopolia japonica

Scopolia japonica is also known as Japanese belladonna. It belongs to the nightshade family, Solanaceae. This perennial lives for more than one year. It is native to Korea and central and southern Japan. In Japan, it grows on Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. It grows in mountain woods in central and southern Japan. Kew places it in the temperate biome, a mild climate region. The plant reaches about 2 feet [0.6 metres] tall. The sources give no mature width or growth rate. They give no leaf or stem details for this species.

Plants For A Future says it flowers in May. Each flower has both male and female organs. The evidence does not say what pollinates the flowers. Nor does it describe the fruit. Its home in woods helps guide its garden use. Plants For A Future lists it for woodland gardens. It suggests sites with patchy shade or sunny woodland edges. It also says this species can grow without shade. Yet its more detailed growing notes favour a shaded site.

The soil advice needs care when read as a whole. Plants For A Future calls for light, rich soil that drains well. It lists sand, loam, and clay as suitable soil types. The plant accepts slightly acid, neutral, and slightly alkaline soil. The same source gives mixed advice on soil moisture. Its brief account says the plant prefers moist soil. Yet its growing notes say it prefers dry soil. These claims give no clear guide on how to water. Neither source gives a hardiness zone for this species. The source lists seed as a way to grow new plants. It gives no further steps for doing so.

This plant is highly poisonous, not a food crop. Plants For A Future lists no known edible uses. It does list uses in traditional medicine. These include relief from pain, coughs, and spasms. It also lists use for stomach pain, diarrhoea, and dysentery. The source reports use of the root as a sedative in Korea. These records do not mean home treatment is safe. The plant's strong poison remains the main safety concern. Plants For A Future lists no other uses. It flags no risk of the plant becoming a weed. The evidence names no pests or diseases. It gives no grounds to judge resistance to either.