Holboellia coriacea
| Holboellia coriacea | |
| Light: |    |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 23' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Holboellia coriacea (common name: sausage vine)
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].
Plants are not fully hardy in Britain, they tolerate temperatures down to about -15°c[6] and 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], the fruits are also 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 species[4].
Range: E. Asia - W. China.
Habitat: Scrub and gorges, 600 - 1300 metres in W. Hubei[6]. Rocky places in thickets[9]. Mixed forests, mountain slopes, among shrubs and trailsides at elevations of 500 - 2000 metres[10].
Edibility: Fruit - raw[11]. Sweet but insipid[9][12]. The fruit is purple with a white pulp and is about 5cm long and 2.5cm wide[12].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Early Fall
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.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 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 Wilson, Ernest and Charles Sargent. Plantae Wilsonianae.
- ↑ Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ Simmons, Alan. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles, 1972.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.