Decaisnea insignis
| Decaisnea insignis | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 11' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Decaisnea insignis
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[1], it then usually germinates freely in early spring[K]. Sow stored seed in February in a greenhouse. This usually germinates well, within 1 - 3 months at 18°c[2]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on under protection for their first winter. Plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings.
Cultivation: Prefers a rich moist loamy soil and a sunny position sheltered from cold winds[3][2]. Succeeds in partial shade[1].
This species is not very hardy in Britain[4], it probably needs greenhouse protection in most parts of the country[3]. The flowers and young growth in spring are very frost-tender and can be damaged by late frosts[1]. The flowers are produced at the tips of the new upright growths in the spring[4][5].
Range: E. Asia - Himalayas in Sikkim and Bhutan.
Habitat: Moist woods and thickets to 3000 metres[6][7].
Edibility: Fruit - raw[3][8][9]. A yellow pod about 8cm long[1], it is filled with a white juicy pulp that is very sweet and pleasant to eat[10].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bird, Alfred. Focus on Plants Volume 5. Thompson and Morgan, 1991.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Davis, Brian. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking, 1990.
- ↑ Wilson, Ernest and Charles Sargent. Plantae Wilsonianae.
- ↑ Gamble, James. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1972.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.