Practical
Plants

Ehretia ovalifolia

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Ehretia genus in the family Ehretiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Ehretia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
12 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit. No more details. Young buds and leaves[1][3]. No more details.

Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - C. and S. Japan.
Habitat
In forests from lowlands to 500 metres[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing it as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse. Sow stored seed in late winter or early spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a moderately fertile well-drained sandy loam in a sunny position[4]. Requires a sheltered position[7]. Plants are shade tolerant in continental climates but they require more sun in maritime areas in order to ripen the wood[4]. Rich fertile soils tend to encourage soft sappy growth which is then subject to frost damage over winter[4]. Young trees are tender in Britain but they become perfectly hardy as they grow older[2]. The young growth in spring is frost-tender[K]. Closely allied to E. acuminata and included in that species by some botanists[2]. A tree was 10 metres tall at Bath botanical gardens in 1989[K]. The flowers, which are produced on the ripened wood of the previous season's growth, have a soft sweet perfume[5].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  6. Flora of Japan www.foj.info

    ↩

  7. PFAFimport-299

    Unresolved citation

    ↩

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