Description
Hovenia –
There are 2 species of deciduous trees, in this genus. They occur in woodland or fores, grown and naturalized in Eastern and Southeastern Asia (their exact country of origin is unknown). The leaves are alternate, heart shaped to oval, toothed, and 6″ long. They are grown mainly for their fragrant flowers and small, spherical fruits. The shallowly cup shaped, yellow or greenish yellow flowers, to 1/4″ across, are held in terminal and axillary, forked cymes. Hovenias are attractive specimen trees and will thrive in areas with long, hot summers. In areas with cool summer, flowers and fruits are not always freely borne.
Grow in moderately fertile, humus rich, well drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil in full sun with shelter from cold, drying winds.
Prone to coral spot.
H. dulcis – Raisin Tree – Japanese Raisin Tree – This upright then spreading tree found in China and Japan grows 30-50′ feet tall and 30′ feet wide. It produces heart shaped to oval, toothed, glossy, dark green leaves, 4-8″ long, downy beneath, which develop brilliant fall hues. In summer, bears cymes 2-3″ across of tiny, greenish yellow, lightly fragrant flowers. After flowering, the stalks swell, becoming red, fleshy, sweet, and edible, they late bears spherical black fruit, to 1/4″ across that taste like raisins.
Zones 6-8
