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HOVENIA DULCIS - Raisin Tree, Japanese Raisin Tree, Kenpo Nashi |
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A small to medium-sized dioecious tree from China and Japan. The fruit is a small dry capsule with a fleshy, sweet, edible pedicel. Grown for the swollen red stems of the fruit that are used for medicine and food, tasting somewhat like pears. The tree does well in warmer areas, standing 10°F. Propagated by seeds or root cuttings. See Raisin Tree
Distant Affinity: Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), Indian Jujube (Z. mauritiana).
Origin: The raisin tree is native to moist areas and mountains of China, although cultivation spread long ago to Japan, Korea and India. The plant was introduced to the West in about 1820.
Adaptation: The northern limits for winter survival and fruit ripening of the tree has not been fully determined. It is cold-hardy to about -10 degrees F, and fruits ripen in eastern North America at least as far north as southern New York. There is a 28-year old specimen in the Asian section of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and another specimen at nearby Huntington Gardens. Raisin tree plants are not particularly suitable for container culture.
DESCRIPTION
Growth Habit: The raisin tree is deciduous and can grow to a height of 70 feet or more, but cultivated specimens typically reach a height of about 30 feet with a singular trunk and a rounded head. The lower branches frequently drop off leaving a fairly high crotch. Growth rate is moderate, perhaps a foot or two per year, more when young and less when old. Raisin trees are particularly handsome when planted in groups. The deeply fissured bark is counterpointed by gently undulating branches and overlapping leaves
Foliage: The cordate, glossy green leaves are borne alternately. They are a large (up to six inches in length), rather limp leaf which must be spread out to see its shape.
Flowers: Racemes of small self-fruitful flowers bloom in late spring. They are cream colored and compensate for their small size by being clustered together in great masses. Where summers are cool, bloom may be delayed even until the end of summer with the result that fruit does not form or ripen.
Fruit: The edible "raisins" are not a fruit at all but a short, swollen mature flower stalk or peduncle which supports the inedible seed pod. As the pod matures, the peduncle of stem attaching it to the cluster swells, becomes knobby and turns a translucent reddish brown. A pear-like flavor develops as the sugars increase, and the peduncle is ready to eat when it falls to the ground. Although the edible portions are small, close to the size of a raisin, the crop is copious. The brown pod which is actually the fruit is not used. |
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