Common Name: Rui Ren

General Information

Prinsepia uniflora is a spiny, deciduous shrub of a lax, spreading habit; it can grow up to 2 metres tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - northern, eastern and central. China.

Habitat

Loess plateaux, areas intermediate between woodland and steppe. Sunny slopes, ravines in valleys, base of hills; at elevations from 800 - 2,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.80 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prinsepia uniflora is moderately cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -20°c[].
Succeeds in any moderately fertile well-drained soil in full sun or light shade[].
The plants produce flowers and fruits better when they are growing in full sun[].
This species is closely allied to Prinsepia sinensis[, ].
Flowers are produced very early in the spring and they are then easily damaged by frosts[]. The flowers are produced on the previous seasons wood[]. They are produced on old wood according to another report[]. Plants only fruit in Britain after long hot summers[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , ]. Juicy[]. The reddish-brown to blackish-brown, globose fruit is about 8 - 15mm in diameter and contains one large seed[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best if given 2 months cold stratification[]. Sow the seed in autumn if possible, otherwise in late winter or early spring in a cold frame in light shade. Germination may be inhibited by light[]. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle into individual pots. Grow them on in a greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[].