Prinsepia uniflora
Prinsepia uniflora | |
Light: | |
Moisture: | |
Hardiness: | 5 |
Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
Height: | 6' |
Width: | 10' |
Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
Native to: | |
Edible Rating: | |
Tea: | Yes |
Prinsepia uniflora (common name: rui ren)
Propagation: Seed - best if given 2 months cold stratification[1]. Sow the seed in autumn if possible, otherwise in late winter or early spring in a cold frame in light shade. Germination may be inhibited by light[1]. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle into individual pots. Grow them on in a greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[1].
Cultivation: Succeeds in any moderately fertile well-drained soil in full sun or light shade[2].
The plants produce flowers and fruits better when they are growing in full sun[2].
Hardy to about -20°c[3].
This species is closely allied to P. sinensis[4][5].
Flowers are produced very early in the spring and they are then easily damaged by frosts[4]. The flowers are produced on the previous seasons wood[2]. They are produced on old wood according to another report[6]. Plants only fruit in Britain after long hot summers[2].
Range: E. Asia - N.W. China.
Habitat: Loess plateaux, areas intermediate between woodland and steppe. Sunny slopes, ravines in valleys, base of hills at elevations of 800 - 2200 metres[7].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[8][9][10]. Juicy[11]. The cherry-like fruit is about 15mm in diameter and contains one large seed[2].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Wilson, Ernest and Charles Sargent. Plantae Wilsonianae.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.