Euscaphis japonica is a small deciduous tree growing up to 4 to 6 m (12 to 20 ft) native to mountain valleys, open forests and thickets in China, Japan, and southern Korea, especially in Jeju Island. It is commonly called sweetheart tree because its red fruit pods look like small hearts when they open. The black seeds which dangle on the red pods create a distinctive color contrast in winter and are a very good food source for the native birds as well.

Though the edible uses and medicinal uses are not much know, there are several studies about compositions and structures of active ingredients of E. japonica. The red capsule of E. japonica was found to contain flavonoid compounds in large quantities and tetraketide, euscapholide, and its glucosides were isolated from the leaves of E. japonica.