Holboellia latifolia

Family: Lardizabalaceae

What it is like

Holboellia latifolia is an evergreen Climber growing to 4 m (13ft 1in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year, in flower in March. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 4

Where it is found

Forests, shrubberies and shady ravines below 4000 metres. Forests, mixed forests by streams or other shady moist sites, forest margins on mountain slopes, along valleys 600 - 3000 m.

E. Asia - Himalayas from India to China.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Fruit - raw. A mealy texture and often considered to be insipid, though it is considered to be very palatable in the Himalayas. The fruit is large, purple, sausage-shaped with many black seeds in the white pulp.The fruit is up to 10cm long.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating:

Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent

How it is grown

Easily grown in any fertile soil in sun or part shade. Plants grow best on a shady wall or when grown into a tree. They succeed in sun or deep shade, but fruits are much more likely to be produced when the plants are grown in a sunny position. Plants are not fully hardy in Britain, they tolerate temperatures down to about -15°c and can be damaged by prolonged periods below -5°c. A plant outdoors between two greenhouse at Cambridge Botanical Gardens was thriving in 1989. Plants thrive in S.W. England but do not fruit freely in this country. Plants at Dartington Hall in Devon occasionally produce fruit. Hand pollination would probably help, fruits are more likely to form in hot summers. There is also some doubt as to whether the plants are monoecious or dioecious, it would be best to grow at least two distinct plants (not cuttings from one plant) and make sure that male and female flowers are present. The flowers are sweetly and heavily scented. The males are produced on the previous years wood whilst females are produced on the current years wood. Plants are fast growing and climb by means of twining. Closely related to H. coriacea. This genus is closely related to Stauntonia spp.

Propagating it: Seed - we have no details on this species but suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe if this is possible, otherwise as soon as you obtain it, in a warm greenhouse. 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. Cuttings of softwood. Cuttings of half-ripe wood in late summer or autumn. Layering.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; North Wall. By. East Wall. By. South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Habit: Climber

Hardiness: 8-11

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Stauntonia latifolia.