The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.

Common Name:

General Information

Photinia villosa is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 5.00 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, Japan, Korea.

Habitat

Woods in W. Hupeh[]. Low mountains and hills all over Japan[]. Slopes, forests, thickets, streamsides, roadsides and waste places at elevations 100 - 1600 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	5.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a well-drained fertile soil in a sheltered position in sun or light shade[, ]. Prefers a warm soil that is not too heavy or close[]. Dislikes calcareous soils[, , ].
A very ornamental[] and polymorphic species[], there are a number of sub-species[]. P. villosa sinica. Rehd.&Wils. is a taller growing form, to 8 metres, and has larger fruits than the type, up to 12mm in diameter[].
Plants are susceptible to fireblight[].
The flowers have a hawthorn-like scent[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit[]. No more details are given. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[], though occasionally forms with fruits up to 16mm are seen[].
Leaves - cooked. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is hard and heavy, suitable for making furniture and other small articles[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the autumn. Stored seed will probably require stratification and should be sown as early in the year as possible[]. Germination is usually good[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Basal cuttings in a frame[]. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, mid summer in a frame[, ]. They take about 2 months to root and should be overwintered in a greenhouse, planting out in late spring[]. Fair to good percentage[].
Cuttings of almost ripe side shoots, 7 - 12cm with a heel, autumn in a cold frame[]. Lift the following autumn and plant in their permanent positions[].
Layering in autumn. Partially sever the layer about 12 months later and lift in the following spring. High percentage[].