Parthenocissus himalayana
| Parthenocissus himalayana | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 59' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Mid Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Parthenocissus himalayana
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[1]. Stored seed requires stratifying for 6 weeks at 5°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[1]. Germination is variable. 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 half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm taken at a node (ensure that it has at least 2 true buds), July/August in a frame[2]. Easy to root but they do not always survive the first winter[3].
Basal hardwood cuttings of current seasons growth, 10 - 12 cm long, autumn in a frame[1].
Layering[1].
Cultivation: Requires a well-drained moisture retentive fertile soil and a sunny position[1]. Succeeds in semi-shade[4].
This species is not very hardy outdoors in Britain, it succeeds in the milder areas of the country where it is best grown on an east or west facing wall[1][5]. The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts.
Fruits are only produced after a long hot summer[5]. The fruit of this species is very late ripening and the plant has potential in breeding programmes with Vitis vinifera, especially in the Himalayas, where this trait could be useful[6].
A climbing plant, supporting itself by means of adhesive tendrils[3][5]. A very good climber for walls but it can invade gutters[3].
Range: E. Asia - China to the Himalayas.
Habitat: Climbing over rocks, 1200 - 3300 metres in W. China[7]. Moist open places at elevations of 2100 - 3200 metres in Nepal[8].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[9][10]. A juicy texture with a sweet to acidic flavour[6]. The average yield per plant is about 750g per year[6]. (This seems exceedingly low[K].) The fruit contains about 8.6% sugars, 2.9% protein, 1.4% ash. Vitamin C content is 12.2mg per 100ml of juice[6]. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter[1] and is carried in small bunches like grapes.
Usage: Plants can be allowed to sprawl on the ground, making a good ground cover when spaced about 3 metres apart each way[4]. They are very vigorous, however, and would soon swamp smaller plants[K].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Ampelopsis himalayana.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Grey-Wilson, Christopher and Victoria Matthews. Gardening on Walls. Collins, 1983.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Parmar, Chiranjit. Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region. Kalyani Publishers, 1982.
- ↑ Wilson, Ernest and Charles Sargent. Plantae Wilsonianae.
- ↑ Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.