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Trees

Hovenia dulcis

Chinese raisin tree

An upright, then spreading, tree with glossy, dark green, heart-shaped leaves, 10-20cm long, and downy beneath. Sprays of tiny, cream, fragrant flowers appear in summer and, as they fade, the flower stems swell, turning red, sweet and edible. They later produce small, black fruit

Other common names

Japanese raisin tree
raisin tree

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Ultimate height

8–12 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

Wider than 8 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Rhamnaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Hovenia are deciduous trees with alternate, heart-shaped or oval leaves, fragrant flowers and small, spherical fruit. The flowers are small, greenish-yellow, and carried in loose, branched clusters at or near the ends of the branches
Name status: Correct
Plant range: India to Japan

How to grow

Cultivation

Needs humus-rich, neutral to slightly alkaline soil, in full sun with shelter from cold wind. Best in areas with a long, hot summer to ripen the wood. Unripened wood is liable to frost damage, and produces fewer flowers

Propagation

Propagate by seed, or take greenwood cuttings in early summer, or hardwood cuttings in late autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Low Maintenance

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally problem free

Diseases

May be susceptible to coral spot on unripe shoots

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