Kendall Farms | Japanese Raisin

Hovenia Dulcis

This fast growing tree hails from Western China and the Himalaya and has adapted readily to the tropics. It produces small raisin like fruit from the trunk. The Raisin Tree is deciduous and can grow to a height of 21m but is more commonly around 9m with a single trunk and a rounded head. They have large, glossy, green, cordate leaves which can be rather limp. The flowers are small but are clustered together in great masses and are cream in colour.

The fleshy thickened fruit stalks, when dried, have the sweet flavour and texture of raisins and can be used in the same way. They have a pear-like flavour when ripe, which is when they fall to the ground. They may be small in size but are usually in copious amounts. The other beauty of these fruits is that you don't need to dry them. The brown pod which is actually the fruit is not used. Grows to 4m, is self pollinating and harvests May to July. Can be grown in a pot.