Practical
Plants

Sinofranchetia chinensis

a deciduous member of the Sinofranchetia genus in the family Lardizabalaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
deciduous
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
15 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious

Uses

Edible uses

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

Fruit - raw[2][5]. Insipid[3]. The size of a grape[6]. The fruit is about 2cm in diameter[8].

Plant part
Fruit

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
E. Asia - C. and W. China.
Habitat
Woodland, 1500 - 2800 metres[3]. Dense forests along valleys, forest margins and among shrubs[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
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 - can be sown as soon as it is ripe or in late winter in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Layering of new shoots in summer.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in any ordinary garden soil in sun or shade[1][8]. Prefers semi-shade[7][9]. The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. A fast growing climbing plant[8], supporting itself by twining around other plants etc[9]. Any pruning is best carried out after the plant has finished flowering[9]. Dioecious, but female plants can produce fruits in the absence of male plants[4][8]. The report does not say if this fruit contains viable seed, so it is best to assume that male and female plants must be grown if seed is required[K].

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. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

    ↩1↩2

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

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

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

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

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