Hovenia dulcis seed

LATIN NAME: HOVENIA DULCIS

COMMON NAME: Japanese Raisin Tree

In the mountain woods of the east, the Japanese raisin tree grows as a broad, deciduous tree with the large, glossy, heart-shaped, toothed leaves and the small, greenish-white flowers in loose clusters in the summer, the thick, brown, twisted fruit stalks swelling and sweetening as the small, round, dry fruits ripen in the autumn. The plant steadily develops a rounded crown, often reaching 5-10 metres. Full sun suits it best, with deep, fertile ground.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The Japanese raisin tree shows up in the studies of the fruit trees of the east, its swollen, sweet fruit stalks keeping it in view in the work on the unusual edible plants and the ornamental trees of the temperate garden. The research looks at the way the twisted stalks swell with the sugars, the heart-shaped leaves turn with the autumn, and the seed biology of the hard-coated seeds.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

In the autumn garden, the Japanese raisin tree offers the curious, sweet, twisted stalks that taste of raisins and draw the children and the birds to the tree. The glossy leaves give the dense summer shade, and the tree makes the fine specimen, the conversation tree and the unusual fruit tree of the mild garden. It is a tree for the open, sheltered, deep and well-drained place.

To grow the Japanese Raisin Tree from seed, crack the hard coats, then soak the seeds and give them a cool, moist spell.

Crack the hard coats, then soak the seeds and give them a cool, moist spell, and keep the young trees in the sheltered, sunny spot. The twisted sweet stalks ripen with the autumn.

 

 

 

 

LATIN NAME: Hovenia dulcis

COMMON NAME: Oriental Raisin Tree, Japanese Raisin Tree, Honey Tree

The oriental raisin tree is a generous and useful tree of the eastern gardens, and its sweet, swollen stalks are a curious and delicious gift of the autumn. The young plant grows into a rounded crown, up to five metres tall. It is a tree found in Asia, from eastern China and Korea to the Himalayas, growing preferably in a sunny position on moist, sandy or loamy soils.

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 Himalayas. It grows preferably in a sunny position on moist, sandy or loamy soils, and it is known for the sweet, swollen stalks that carry its small fruits.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The oriental raisin tree has a genuine and growing place in both food and pharmacological research. It has been studied in food science, since the sweet, swollen stalks are edible and have long been eaten as a snack and used in the making of drinks and preserves in East Asia, and researchers have examined the content, the sugars and the uses of the fruit stalks, which have made it a valued and curious tree of the fruit garden. The tree has also been studied in chemistry and pharmacology, since it has a long history of use in traditional medicine, and researchers have examined the chemistry of the plant, identifying a range of bioactive compounds, including the dihydromyricetin and other flavonoids, and examining their potential biological activity, which has made it a subject of continuing interest in natural product research, while its traditional uses continue to guide modern studies. The species has also been studied in botany and in horticulture, since it is a hardy and useful tree of the eastern gardens. For a tree of such sweet gifts, 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 autumn garden. Its flowers feed bees and other insects, and its sweet stalks and seeds feed birds and wildlife, while it is a broad and useful presence in the gardens and the forests of eastern Asia.

Its economic value is real. The sweet, swollen fruit stalks are eaten fresh and dried, made into drinks, wines and preserves, and the tree has a long history of use in traditional medicine, while its chemistry continues to be of interest to research and industry, and the tree is also planted as a shade and ornamental tree. For a grower, the oriental raisin tree is an easy and rewarding tree, and for a gardener it brings a sweet harvest of raisin-like stalks in the autumn. 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, growing on into a hardy, sweet-fruited tree.

Description:

NAME: Japanese Raisin Tree

OTHER COMMON NAMES: Oriental Raisin Tree / Honey Tree

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hovenia Dulcis

COLOR: Cream Colored Flowers / Reddish Brown Fruit

PLANT SEEDS: When soil temp warms to 60 – 70F

BLOOM TIME: Flowers in July

HARVEST: Fruit Sept – Oct

HARDINESS ZONE: 5 – 9

PLANT HEIGHT: 20 – 40

PLANT SPACING: 30 – 40

LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: Sun – Part Shade

SOIL & WATER PREFERENCES: Average

OTHER: The Japanese Raisin Tree is ornamental & produces edible pear flavored fruit. This Asian native also has traditional medicinal uses. The trees hard wood is used for lots of things from building construction to fine furniture, & burns slowly so is good for fires. Extracts from the plants are also used as a honey substitute used in candies & wine.

Raisin Trees have big glossy leaves that measure up to 6″ long, & large fragrant clusters of flowers. The flowers are replaced by small edible fruit that is also fragrant. While the fruit is small, they are very abundant. The pear flavored fruit can be eaten raw, cooked, or dried. When they are dried, they look like raisins & have a somewhat similar taste.