Holboellia angustifolia
| Holboellia angustifolia | |
| Light: |    |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Holboellia angustifolia
Propagation: Seed - we have no details on this species but suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe if this is possible, otherwise as soon as you obtain it, in a warm greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of softwood[1].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood in late summer or autumn[2].
Layering.
Cultivation: Easily grown in any fertile soil in sun or part shade[3][4]. Plants grow best on a shady wall or when grown into a tree[4]. They succeed in sun or deep shade, but fruits are much more likely to be produced when the plants are grown in a sunny position[4][5].
Not fully hardy in Britain, it is probably hardier than the closely related H. coriacea, tolerating temperatures down to about -15°c[6] but it can be damaged by prolonged periods below -5°c[4]. Plants are hardy at Kew but they do not fruit freely in this country[7]. Hand pollination would probably help[7][8], fruits are more likely to form in hot summers[8]. There is also some doubt as to whether the plants are monoecious or dioecious, it would be best to grow at least two distinct plants (not cuttings from one plant) and make sure that male and female flowers are present[K]. The flowers are sweetly and heavily scented. The males are produced on the previous years wood whilst females are produced on the current years wood[3].
Plants are fast growing[4] and climb by means of twining[3].
This genus is closely related to Stauntonia spp[4].
Range: E. Asia - Himalayas to C. China.
Habitat: Scrub and gorges, 600 - 1800 metres in W. Hubei. Mixed forest on mountain slopes, edge of forests, hillsides, along valleys and by streams at elevations of 1000 - 2700 metres[9].
Edibility: Fruit - raw[10][11]. Often considered to be insipid, it is a startling metallic-blue colour, sausage-shaped with many black seeds in the white pulp. The fruit can be up to 8cm long and 5cm wide[9].
Medicinal: The roots and stems are used medicinally[9]. No further information is given.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Monoecious
Links
References
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Grey-Wilson, Christopher and Victoria Matthews. Gardening on Walls. Collins, 1983.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Taylor, Jane. The Milder Garden. Dent, 1990.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.