Hovenia dulcis
Common name: 
Japanese Raisintree
Raisintree
Pronunciation: 
ho-VE-ni-a DUL-sis
Family: 
Rhamnaceae
Genus: 
Hovenia
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf deciduous tree or tall shrub, to about 30 ft (10 m), upright oval to rounded outline, long ascending main branches, few lateral branches.  Leaves alternate, simple, broad-ovate to elliptic, 10-15 cm, tip acuminate, base subcordate or rounded and usually unequal, margin coarsely serrate, vein below with (pubescent) or without hairs; long petiole, 3-5 cm, pubescent; fall color green to yellow.  Flowers inconspicuous, 6 mm diameter, greenish, in 5-7 cm wide clusters, stalk becomes swollen, red and edible, sweet flavored after frost.  Fruit pea-sized, light gray-brown, 3-seeded, may not ripen in cultivation.
  • Sun to part shade.  not particular about soil, but reportedly does best in sandy loams.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone (5)6    Native to China and Himalayas, cultivated in Japan and India.
  • dulcis: sweet, presumably a reference to the fleshy fruit stalk.
  • Portland, Oregon: Hoyt Arboretum
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • leafy shoot

    leafy shoot

  • leaf

    leaf

  • leaves and flower clusters

    leaves and flower clusters

  • flowers

    flowers

  • leaves and fruit

    leaves and fruit

  • trunk, bark

    trunk, bark