This study was conducted to analyze the correlation between vegetation , environmental factors, and soil characteristic of an endangered species, Eleutherococcus senticosus. Eighteen quadrats in population zones of Seoraksan, Odaesan, Chiaksna, Duckhangsan, Sobaeksan, Juwangsan, and, Jirisan were set up and ordination was analyzed. In the study sites, soil pH, available phosphorous, organic matter and nitrogen were ranged from 5.06∼5.43pH, 24.63∼57.77mg/kg, 14.01∼18.37%, and 0.63∼0.75%, respectively. Eleutherococcus senticosus is classified into Morus bombycis dominant population, Cornus controversa dominant population, and Eleutherococcus senticosus typical population. The importance value of Acer pictum subsp. mono, Morus bombycis, Magnolia sieboldii, Cornus controversa, Tilia taquetii, and Ulmus laciniata in Eleutherococcus senticosus population were 23.77%, 23.60%, 18.07%, 17.82%, 15.31%, and 13.57%, respectively. The correlation between vegetation and environmental factors of Eleutherococcus senticosus vegetation distribution were shown to be affected by altitude, slope, and direction.
Habitats Characteristic of Eleutherococcus senticosus is that it is deciduous shrubs that rarely grows under the deciduous places deep in the mountains in areas north of the Mt. Jirisan. It is weak in the condition of a high temperature and powerful light, needs shading effect on plant growth while being cultivated, and is appropriate at 50% of shading rate. Crown density ranges from 67.78 ～ 86.1% high, and Vitality level does from 15 ～ 48.2Ω variously in the natural habitat.
Its natural colony is in danger of extinction and it is selected as rare and endangered species because of its difficult natural propagation from indiscriminate collections and poor ripening. Therefore, a systematic restoration should be performed with study and investigation related to proper ecological conditions (life cycle, seed germination rate, survival rate) of Eleutherococcus senticosus.