Euptelea polyandra is a deciduous tree native to the forests and mountains of central and southern Japan that grows to 26 feet. While its spring flowers are rather inconspicuous, it does display attractive fall foliage. It will grow in most soil types and in low-light conditions. It does prefer moist soil. The flowers lack sepals and petals, but do display red stamens in the spring. The plant does best in an open moderately rich free soil and full sun such as an open situation in a woodland garden or shrub border. The plant is a food plant for the larvae of some moth species. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or other problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Growth rate
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Horizontal; Pyramidal; Spreading
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Whorled
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Attractive fall color.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Inconspicuous flowers in spring displaying red stamens.
Bloom time
Spring
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central & Southern Japan
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Edibility
Leaves can be cooked and eaten, but typically as a "famine" food.