Japanese Raisin Tree Seed Sweet Edible Fruit Frost Hovenia dulcis
LATIN NAME: HOVENIA DULCIS
COMMON NAME: Japanese Raisin Tree, Oriental Raisin Tree
The Japanese raisin tree is a handsome and remarkable tree of the warm hills, and it is a tree whose sweet fruit is borne upon the stalk. It grows as a deciduous tree, reaching up to fifteen metres or more, with an upright, branching trunk bearing alternate, broad, oval, pointed, toothed, dark-green leaves and, in the summer, small, greenish-white flowers in the loose clusters, followed by the curious, fleshy, swollen, reddish-brown fruit stalks, which swell and sweeten as the fruit ripens, and which taste like the raisins, while the small, round, hard fruits are borne at the tips of the swollen stalks. It is a species of the flowering tree in the buckthorn family, native to the warm hills of eastern Asia, while it is grown for its remarkable sweet fruit stalks, and it is known as the Japanese raisin tree.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The Japanese raisin tree has a real and distinguished place in research. It has been studied in the food science and the chemistry, since the swollen, sweet fruit stalks of the Japanese raisin tree have been prized as a sweet food, and the researchers have examined the stalks, their sugars and their value, while the remarkable sweet fruit of the tree has drawn attention in the international food and botanical press, and the study of the sweet fruit stalks has been of continuing interest across the world. The plant has also been studied in botany and ecology, since it is a native of the warm hills of eastern Asia, and its relationships, its distribution and its role in the wild have been examined, while the ecology of the warm-hill trees has been of continuing interest, and the curious, fleshy, swollen fruit stalks of the Japanese raisin tree have been of the greatest interest to the botanists. The species has also been studied in the horticulture and the forestry, since it is a handsome, fast-growing tree of the garden, and the researchers have examined its growth and its cultivation, while its fine, broad leaves, its sweet fruit stalks and its fast growth have made it a valued tree of the warm garden. For a tree of such sweet and curious value, the Japanese raisin tree has a rich and distinguished record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
To grow the Japanese Raisin Tree from seed, ecologically, the Japanese raisin tree is a generous tree of the garden. Its small, greenish-white flowers feed the bees and the insects, and its sweet, swollen fruit stalks feed the birds and the wildlife, while its broad, leafy crown gives a fine shade and a cover to the birds through the summer. Its economic value is real: the Japanese raisin tree is prized for its remarkable sweet fruit stalks, which are eaten fresh and used in the making of the sweet things of the region, and its value has drawn attention in the international food and botanical press, while its fine, fast growth and its handsome foliage have made it a valued tree of the garden and the street. To raise the Japanese raisin tree, sow the cleaned seeds in pots of moist compost after a cold spell, keep them lightly watered, and grow the little trees on in a bright spot.
sow the cleaned seeds in pots of moist compost after a cold spell, keep the young raisin trees lightly watered, and grow the little trees on in a bright spot.
LATIN NAME: Hovenia dulcis
COMMON NAME: Oriental Raisin Tree, Japanese Raisin Tree, Guai Zao
The oriental raisin tree is a hardy and generous tree of Asia, and its sweet, swollen fruit stalks are its delicious secret. It grows as a medium-sized, deciduous tree, reaching up to twenty-five metres, with a broad crown of oval, glossy leaves and, in early summer, clusters of small, white flowers, followed by the curious fruits: the small, dry seed capsules are borne on thick, fleshy, swollen stalks, which swell and sweeten as they ripen, turning brown and wrinkled, and are eaten as a sweet, raisin-like treat. It is a native of Asia, from eastern China and Korea to the Himalaya, and it is valued for its sweet fruits, for its timber and as an ornamental, while its fruits are also used to make a traditional tea.
The oriental raisin tree belongs to the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae, and it is a hardy tree found in Asia, from eastern China and Korea to the Himalaya. It grows preferably in a sunny position on moist sandy or loamy soils, and it has been introduced as an ornamental tree to several countries.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The oriental raisin tree has a genuine and growing place in both food and scientific research. The tree is known for its health benefits when consumed in tea, and researchers have studied the chemistry of the sweet fruit stalks and the other parts of the tree, identifying a range of bioactive compounds, including the dihydromyricetin and other flavonoids that have drawn interest in research on their potential biological activity, which has made the oriental raisin tree a subject of real and growing interest in natural product research. The plant has also been studied in horticulture and agriculture, since it is a hardy and valuable tree, prized for its sweet fruits, its timber and its value as an ornamental, and researchers have examined its cultivation and its management. The species has also been studied in botany and in ecology, since it is a native of the forests of Asia. For a tree of such sweet reward, the oriental raisin tree has a rich and growing record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the oriental raisin tree is a generous tree of the Asian forest. Its white flowers feed bees and other pollinators, its sweet fruit stalks feed birds and small mammals, and its broad, leafy crown gives shade and shelter, while it is a valued member of the forests of its native range.
Its economic value is real and varied. The sweet fruit stalks are eaten fresh and dried as a treat, and they are used to make a traditional tea, while the tree is also valued for its timber and as an ornamental, and it has been introduced to several countries for its fruits and its handsome form. For a grower, the oriental raisin tree is a valuable and rewarding tree, and for a gardener it brings sweet, raisin-like fruits and a handsome crown. The seeds need a spell of cold — keep them in the fridge in damp compost for a couple of months, then sow them in a pot of moist, free-draining compost, and theyll sprout steadily over a few weeks, growing on into a hardy, generous tree.
Hovenia dulcis
A native of China and Japan, where it prefers rich, moist, well-drained soils in a protected, sunny position. It will tolerate most soil types except wet soils.
A deciduous small, multi-stemmed tree to 10 metres with a spread of 6 metres, its stems are upright and uniform and carry an oval to rounded crown. The leaves are 100 to 175mm long, simple and alternate turning yellow in autumn.
The flowers are white to pale green, fragrant and appear summer, the fruit are brown-red edible drupes and have a strong, sweet fragrance.