Easily grown in any good garden soil. Prefers a rich light well-drained sandy loam in a sunny position. Plants are almost hardy in Britain according to one report, whilst others say that the plants tolerate temperatures down to between -10 and -15°c. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Tubers - cooked. The tubers are up to 5cm long and 2m wide. They are washed to remove the bitterness, the fibrous core is removed and the root is then boiled. It tastes like asparagus. Another report says that the tubers are eaten after preserving in sugar. The fruit is said to be edible. The fruit is about 6 - 8mm in diameter. Another report says that the berries are harmful if eaten.

Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in spring or as soon as the seed is ripe in early autumn in a greenhouse. It usually germinates in 3 - 6 weeks at 25°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a sunny position in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Division in early spring as the plant comes into growth.

Near seashores all over Japan. Thinly forested slopes, roadsides and waste fields from near sea level to 1700 metres in China.