Analysis of Eucommia ulmoides Producing Areas, 2018 Planting Returns and Market Prospects

Eucommia ulmoides, also known as gutta-percha tree, is a plant in the family Eucommiaceae. It combines edible, medicinal and industrial value in one, and has relatively high economic value. So, where are the producing areas of Eucommia ulmoides? Is growing Eucommia ulmoides in 2018 profitable? What are the planting prospects and market prices?

Where are the producing areas of Eucommia ulmoides?

Eucommia ulmoides is a species endemic to China. It is distributed in Shaanxi, Gansu, Henan (Xichuan), Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Anhui, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Zhejiang and other provinces and regions, and is now widely planted in various places.

Zhangjiajie is the hometown of Eucommia ulmoides and the world's largest producing area of wild Eucommia ulmoides; now Jiangsu's national-level forestry base cultivates Eucommia ulmoides artificially on a large scale.

Eucommia ulmoides has also been introduced to botanical gardens in Europe and America, where it is called the “Chinese rubber tree”, although it has no kinship whatsoever with the rubber tree.

Is growing Eucommia ulmoides in 2018 profitable?

Eucommia ulmoides is a precious medicinal material unique to China, and market supply falls short of demand. Many counterfeit products have appeared in various places, and at present identification is based only on morphology, microscopic characteristics and physicochemical properties. It has broad applications in medical care, health care, the environment, agricultural and sideline products, daily products and other aspects. Is growing Eucommia ulmoides in 2018 profitable? We need to find scientific and reasonable development approaches and give full play to the medicinal value of Eucommia ulmoides.

Eucommia ulmoides uses its bark as medicine and has the functions of tonifying the liver and kidneys, strengthening bones and muscles, and lowering blood pressure. Its leaves and fruits are rich in hard rubber, which has high insulation and very high strength; in particular, it is alkali-resistant and rot-resistant, making it an important raw material for the rubber industry. At present, Eucommia ulmoides gum, Eucommia ulmoides tea, Eucommia ulmoides oral liquid and other Eucommia ulmoides series drinks have been developed and produced. Eucommia ulmoides is a deciduous tree, a fast-growing tree species with strong vitality. One year after introduction, each plant can yield 80 grams of Eucommia ulmoides leaves, increasing year by year thereafter. At current market prices, calculated at 7 yuan per 1 kg of Eucommia ulmoides leaves sold, costs can be recovered in less than two years.

What are the planting prospects and market prices?

Eucommia ulmoides is called “plant gold”, so the mother trees should be protected as much as possible, with bark peeled once a year so that they can bring benefits for a long time and be cultivated as a long-term source of plant gold.

Eucommia ulmoides is a valuable woody medicinal material and gum-source tree species unique to China. It is a traditional excellent product of the Chinese working people for treating illness and strengthening the body, and is also a very good tree species for soil and water conservation, landscaping, special-purpose timber and comprehensive utilization, and has always been loved by the people. It has now been ascertained that the effective components of Eucommia ulmoides are very rich, and its leaves and bark contain large amounts of lignans and iridoids. What are the prospects for growing Eucommia ulmoides in 2018? When the added development value of a certain product increases, demand for the product will increase. Therefore, growers need to always pay attention to changes in market demand and enter the growing industry at the right time to obtain good returns.

Indications and contraindications for medicinal use of Eucommia ulmoides

Indications: middle-aged and elderly people with insufficient kidney qi, waist and knee pain, and weak and powerless legs and feet, and those with residual dribbling during urination; women with weak constitution, insecure kidney qi, threatened miscarriage and habitual miscarriage; children with sequelae of polio, children who walk too late, and those with weakness in both lower limbs; patients with high blood pressure.

Contraindications: Eucommia ulmoides is mild in nature and flavor, tonifies the liver and kidneys, and has no contraindications.

Those with yin deficiency and excessive fire should take it cautiously.