Debregeasia edulis
Family: Urticaceae
What it is like
Debregeasia edulis is an evergreen Shrub. It is in leaf all year. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 0
Where it is found
The upper sub-tropical zone of the Himalayas in Tibet.
E. Asia - from eastern Tibet to central and southern Japan.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Fruit - raw. Pleasantly sweet, they are said to resemble strawberries.
Medicine
Rating: 1
A decoction of the leaves and/or the fruits is sudorific. The leaves are decocted with Pterocarya spp and used in the treatment of itch.
Diaphoretic: Induces perspiration.
Other
Rating: 0
How it is grown
Prefers a fertile well-drained loam with some shelter at the hottest part of the day. Plants are not very hardy in Britain, they require greenhouse protection. It might be possible to grow this plant outdoors in the mildest areas of the country, especially if it is given the protection of a warm wall. The fruit is difficult to harvest because the it is tender and falls apart easily, therefore it is not suitable for commercial cultivation. The fruit remains on the plant for several weeks and looks particularly ornamental. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed and fruit is required.
Propagating it: Seed - sow late winter to mid-summer in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 2 months at 20°c. 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. Softwood cuttings in early summer.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: 0-0
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade
Moisture: Moist