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Common Name:

General Information

Docynia delavayi is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 10.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - China.

Habitat

Riversides in valleys, mixed forests and mountainous areas at elevations of 1000 - 3000 metres in W Guizhou, W Sichuan and NW Yunnan Provinces[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a well-drained soil in a sunny position[].
This species is only hardy in the milder areas of Britain[], it succeeds outdoors at Wisley just west of London[].
The genus is closely related to the quince, Cydonia oblonga[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw, cooked or used in preserves[]. When ripe it is like an apple[]. The fruit is about 4cm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The fruits of this plant are used to promote the ripening of persimmons, Diospyros kaki. The fruits of each species are placed in alternate layers in a large container, they are then covered with rice husks and in 10 hours the persimmons are ready for eating[, , ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame[]. 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.