Idesia polycarpa
| Idesia polycarpa | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Cross Pollinated | |
| Height: | 39' |
| Width: | 33' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Mid Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Idesia polycarpa
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[1]. Germination is usually very good[1]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their fist two winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring, after the last expected frosts and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors[K]. Plants cannot be sexed until they flower[1].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in a frame. Fair percentage[1].
Layering in spring. Takes 12 months[1].
Cultivation: Prefers a neutral to slightly acid loamy soil, but tolerates a chalky sub-soil if the top soil is deep[2]. Succeeds in full sun or semi-shade[3].
The dormant plant is hardy to about -15°c, though the tree is somewhat hardier if the wood is thoroughly ripened by a long hot summer[2]. The young shoots in spring can be damaged by late frosts.
A very ornamental plant[4]. The flowers have a most delicious perfume, which can be wafted far and wide by warm breezes[5].
Trees produce fruit regularly at Kew[6].
Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if fruit and seed is required. Female plants can produce some fruit in the absence of a male plant[6].
Range: E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat: Hills and mountain forests above elevations of 2000 metres[7][8].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[9][10]. The fruit is a many seeded berry with a pulpy flesh[11], it is about 10mm in diameter[2].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Dioecious
Also Known As: Polycarpa maximowiczii.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Ohwi, Jisaburo. Flora of Japan. Smithsonian Institution, 1965.
- ↑ Wilson, Ernest and Charles Sargent. Plantae Wilsonianae.
- ↑ 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.