Practical
Plants

Hovenia dulcis

Japanese Raisin Tree

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Hovenia genus in the family Rhamnaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Hovenia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
10 m
Spread
7 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

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

Fruit - raw or cooked[10][4][7]. They can be dried when they have the sweet flavour and texture of raisins and can be used similarly[9]. The fruit is sweet and fragrant[2][6] with a pear-like flavour[12]. Dry and sub-acid[16]. It is not a true fruit but a swollen receptacle[11]. The fruit is up to 3cm long[10], it contains 11.4% glucose, 4.7% fructose and 12.6% sucrose[12]. A sweet extract of the seed, boughs and young leaves is used as a substitute for honey[9]. The seed contains 15% protein and 7.8% fat[12].

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Sweetener

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.

Antispasmodic, febrifuge, laxative[6][8]. The fruit is antispasmodic, febrifuge, laxative and diuretic[12]. The seeds are diuretic and are used in the treatment of alcohol overdose[12]. The seeds are used to relieve intoxication due to wine[13]. The stem bark is used in the treatment of rectal diseases[12].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Laxative

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China to the Himalayas.
Habitat
Plains and mountains to 2000 metres in W. China[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
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 - germinates freely if sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[11]. Stored seed should be scarified and sown in early spring[5], it may not germinate for a year. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and grow on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts and give some winter protection for their first couple of years outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[11]. Cuttings of mature wood, late autumn in a frame[11].

Cultivation

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

Grows well in a fertile sandy loam in a sunny position[11]. Although the dormant plant is hardy to at least -15°c in Britain, it really prefers a continental climate to fully ripen its wood, it is then hardy to about -25°c[11]. The shoot tips are sometimes damaged by winter frosts in Britain[1] and the young growth in spring can also be damaged by late frosts[K]. The Japanese raisin tree is said to grow well in Cornwall[15], though our experience of this plant so far (1995) is that it is very difficult to establish. Perhaps older plants are as hardy as the reports above suggest, but younger plants are quite tender and often die in their first few winters outdoors[K]. The Japanese raisin tree is cultivated for its edible fruit in Japan. The small white flowers are scented and are produced in terminal cymes[14].

References

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  3. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

    ↩

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

    ↩

  5. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩

  6. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2

  7. Gupta. B. L. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press 1945-00-00

    ↩

  8. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

  11. 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

  12. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  13. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩

  15. Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.

    ↩

  16. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

Edit this page