Practical
Plants

Holboellia latifolia

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[17][6][16]. A mealy texture and often considered to be insipid[11][4][14], though it is considered to be very palatable in the Himalayas[8]. The fruit is large[2], purple, sausage-shaped with many black seeds in the white pulp[8].The fruit is up to 10cm long[12].

Plant part
Fruit

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Himalayas from India to China.
Habitat
Forests, shrubberies and shady ravines below 4000 metres[17]. Forests, mixed forests by streams or other shady moist sites, forest margins on mountain slopes, along valleys 600 - 3000 m[15].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
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[10]. Layering.

Cultivation

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

Easily grown in any fertile soil in sun or part shade[7][12]. Plants grow best on a shady wall or when grown into a tree[12]. 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[12][13]. Plants are not fully hardy in Britain, they tolerate temperatures down to about -15°c[9] and can be damaged by prolonged periods below -5°c[12]. A plant outdoors between two greenhouse at Cambridge Botanical Gardens was thriving in 1989[K]. Plants thrive in S.W. England[3][18] but do not fruit freely in this country[3]. Plants at Dartington Hall in Devon occasionally produce fruit[3]. Hand pollination would probably help[3][5], fruits are more likely to form in hot summers[5]. 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[7]. Plants are fast growing[12] and climb by means of twining[7]. Closely related to H. coriacea[3]. This genus is closely related to Stauntonia spp[12].

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↩3↩4↩5

  4. Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00

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

    ↩1↩2

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

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

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

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  10. 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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  11. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  12. 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↩7

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

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  14. Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. 1993-00-00

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

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  16. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

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  17. Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  18. Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.

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