Hovenia dulcis (Japanese Raisin Tree) | root trainer

Description

Hardy broadleaf deciduous tree, to about 10 m, upright oval to rounded outline, long ascending main branches, few lateral branches. Flower stalks becomes swollen, red and edible, sweet flavored after frost. Fruit pea-sized, looks and tastes like raisins when dried. We coppice them and chip for ramial wood chip to feed the trees around them. Great emergent tree creating light shade for subtropicals and other trees. Great in an Asian Guild Forest Garden. Prefer sandy light soils but tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and grows fast. ‘Raisins’ are good chicken fodder. The flowers are fairly insignificant but are much loved by bees.