The Genus Cudrania
Family Moraceae
This is a small genus of shrubs and trees native to Africa and Asia. The species are dioecious. Some have spines. Several have relatively large, edible fruits. One species is cultivated occasionally in the Coastal Southeast. Some botanists place the genus Maclura in Cudrania.
The mulberry family, Moraceae, is a large family with many members throughout the world’s tropics. It includes herbaceous perennials, shrubs, vines and trees. A few members of this family are cold hardy enough to grow as far north as zone 8b. Osage orange (Maclura) and mulberry (Morus) may be the best known plants to gardeners north of zone 9. Dorstenia is a genus of herbaceous and woody plants that grows through much of zone 9. Breadfruit and jackfruit (Artocarpus) are well-known tropical trees that produce edible fruits.
The mulberry family, Moraceae, is a large family with many members throughout the world’s tropics. It includes herbaceous perennials, shrubs, vines and trees. A few members of this family are cold hardy enough to grow as far north as zone 8b. Osage orange (Maclura) and mulberry (Morus) may be the best known plants to gardeners north of zone 9. Dorstenia is a genus of herbaceous and woody plants that grows through much of zone 9. Breadfruit and jackfruit (Artocarpus) are well-known tropical trees that produce edible fruits.
Cudrania tricuspidata
Cudrania tricuspidata (Guardino/Reyes')
che, apricot melonberry
This is a deciduous tree that grows to about twenty to twenty-five feet tall. Young plants are thorny. Older trees seem variable in regards to thorns. Usually, this plant is dioecious but some clones bear fruit without a pollinator. It bears an abundance of approximately one inch fruits. They are orange-brown at maturity and sour in flavor. It grows best in a sunny site with a moist, well-drained soil. It is recommended for zones 7 to 9.
Plants are available in specialty catalogs. Plants may be propagated by seeds, summer softwood cuttings and the digging of suckers.
My tree grew from a friend’s root sucker. It grew at a moderate rate in an unirrigated part of my garden. It is deciduous in November. New leaves emerge in late February to mid- March. I see about one new root sucker each year. A friend's plant, in an irrigated garden, grew quickly and produced numerous root suckers each year, some appearing several feet from the parent plant. Both of us removed out plants because of the suckering. It may be best planted in a a lawn where the suckers can be mowed off easily.
This is a deciduous tree that grows to about twenty to twenty-five feet tall. Young plants are thorny. Older trees seem variable in regards to thorns. Usually, this plant is dioecious but some clones bear fruit without a pollinator. It bears an abundance of approximately one inch fruits. They are orange-brown at maturity and sour in flavor. It grows best in a sunny site with a moist, well-drained soil. It is recommended for zones 7 to 9.
Plants are available in specialty catalogs. Plants may be propagated by seeds, summer softwood cuttings and the digging of suckers.
My tree grew from a friend’s root sucker. It grew at a moderate rate in an unirrigated part of my garden. It is deciduous in November. New leaves emerge in late February to mid- March. I see about one new root sucker each year. A friend's plant, in an irrigated garden, grew quickly and produced numerous root suckers each year, some appearing several feet from the parent plant. Both of us removed out plants because of the suckering. It may be best planted in a a lawn where the suckers can be mowed off easily.
Cudrania tricuspidata flowers (by G. Reyes)
C. tricuspidata fruit (photo by G. Reyes)
C. tricuspidata