Botanical Name: Hovenia dulcis
Common Names: Japanese Raisin Tree, Chinese Raisin Tree, Kenpo Nashi
Plant Family: Rhamnaceae
Origin: native to China, Korea and Japan
Plant Description
It grows well with little care and attention. A deciduous tree, it grows to a height of 6 - 9 m with a spread of 4 m. It is suited to temperate and subtropical climates and is very hardy to cold. The stem is stout, erect and branching at the apex, with deeply fissured dark brown bark. The leaves are heart-shaped and the flowers are white and small. It produces copious quantities of sweet, raisin-like, edible fruit.
Sow When
Germinates best at 15 - 20°C soil temperature.
Temperate Areas: Spring.
Subtropical Areas: Early Spring.
Tropical Areas: unlikely to do well.
Planting Details
Seed Preparation: seeds have an impermeable seed coat that severely slows down germination; scarify by rubbing the seed between sandpaper, then by soak the seed in hot tap water (approximately 140°F) for several days. Keep moist, germination can be slow, up to 12 months.
Planting Depth: cover seed lightly with a seed raising mix.
Spacing: 4 m between trees.
Position: full Sun.
Soil Type: tolerant of wide range of soil types but prefer good drainage; pH 6 - 7
Uses
Eating: the fleshy, thickened fruit-stalks, when dried, have the sweet flavour and texture of raisins and can be used similarly.
Shade Tree: it is an ornamental shade tree well-suited to the home garden and school playgrounds.
