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Common Name: Rui Ren

General Information

Prinsepia uniflora is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 1.80 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - N.W. China.

Habitat

Loess plateaux, areas intermediate between woodland and steppe. Sunny slopes, ravines in valleys, base of hills at elevations of 800 - 2200 metres[].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

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[].
Hardy to about -20°c[].
This species is closely allied to P. 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 cherry-like fruit is about 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[].