Practical
Plants

Holboellia angustifolia

an evergreen member of the Holboellia genus in the family Lardizabalaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
evergreen
Flower type
monoecious

Uses

Edible uses

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

Fruit - raw[2][5]. Often considered to be insipid, it is a startling metallic-blue colour, sausage-shaped with many black seeds in the white pulp. The fruit can be up to 8cm long and 5cm wide[11].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

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

The roots and stems are used medicinally[11]. No further information is given.

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Himalayas to C. China.
Habitat
Scrub and gorges, 600 - 1800 metres in W. Hubei. Mixed forest on mountain slopes, edge of forests, hillsides, along valleys and by streams at elevations of 1000 - 2700 metres[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - we have no details on this species but suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe if this is possible, otherwise as soon as you obtain it, in a warm greenhouse. 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 softwood[1]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood in late summer or autumn[8]. Layering.

Cultivation

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

Easily grown in any fertile soil in sun or part shade[6][9]. Plants grow best on a shady wall or when grown into a tree[9]. They succeed in sun or deep shade, but fruits are much more likely to be produced when the plants are grown in a sunny position[9][10]. Not fully hardy in Britain, it is probably hardier than the closely related H. coriacea, tolerating temperatures down to about -15°c[7] but it can be damaged by prolonged periods below -5°c[9]. Plants are hardy at Kew but they do not fruit freely in this country[3]. Hand pollination would probably help[3][4], fruits are more likely to form in hot summers[4]. There is also some doubt as to whether the plants are monoecious or dioecious, it would be best to grow at least two distinct plants (not cuttings from one plant) and make sure that male and female flowers are present[K]. The flowers are sweetly and heavily scented. The males are produced on the previous years wood whilst females are produced on the current years wood[6]. Plants are fast growing[9] and climb by means of twining[6]. This genus is closely related to Stauntonia spp[9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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

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

    ↩1↩2

  4. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  6. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

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  8. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  10. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩

  11. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩1↩2↩3

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