Practical
Plants

Stauntonia hexaphylla

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
evergreen
Growth rate
moderate
Height
10 m
Spread
7 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Insects, Hand
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Insects, Hand

Uses

Edible uses

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

Fruit - raw or cooked[7][12][14][3]. Sweet and watery[1] with a honey-like flavour[13], it is highly esteemed as a dessert fruit in Japan[4]. The fruit is up to 5cm long[6].

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, stem and fruits are antirheumatic and diuretic[9]. The juice of the fruit is used in the treatment of ophthalmia[7].

Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Ophthalmic

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Burma, Japan, Korea.
Habitat
Thickets and woodland in lowland from C. Japan southwards[14].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. The seed can take 18 months to germinate. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors[K]. Cuttings.

Cultivation

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

Requires a well-drained moisture retentive soil in a sheltered position[8]. Succeeds in acid or alkaline soils, in full sun or in semi-shade[8]. It grows best if its roots are in a shady position and the top is allowed to grow into the sun[K]. A very ornamental plant, it is only hardy outdoors in the milder areas of Britain[12][1][15], tolerating temperatures down to about -10°c when the plant is fully dormant[5]. The young growth in spring, however, can be damaged by late frosts. It is cultivated for its edible fruit in Japan. The flowers have a pleasant sweet perfume[11]. A climbing plant that supports itself by twining around other plants and supports[10]. Plants are dioecious but females have borne fruit at times in the absence of a male pollinator[1][8]. In Britain fruit is usually only formed in sunny summers[2][10]. Hand pollination may improve fruit set[2]. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

  3. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  12. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

    ↩1↩2

  13. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  14. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  15. Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.

    ↩

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