Distribution : D'après Wilmot-Dear & Friis (
2013): "Presumed native to China, Indochina and Japan, but natural distribution difficult to ascertain. The species has been in cultivation for over 3000 years in China (see Note 7) and is now widely naturalised in the Old World as well as being widely cultivated for fibre. [...] Chen et al. (2003: 167) states that it is now widely cultivated in eastern Asia, especially China, where the history of cultivation can be traced back at least 3000 years. The species was introduced to Europe and the Americas in the 18th century."