Plant Details

Hovenia dulcis

Japanese Raisin Tree

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Hovenia dulcis.

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Common names

18 names · 14 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Japanese Raisin Tree[2]
Other languages (13)
Dutch
  • Japanse krentenboom
French
  • Arbre à Raisins du Japon
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • dužistopka sladká[2]
Hebrew
  • הובניה מתוקה[2]
  • עץ הצימוק היפני[2]
Japanese
  • ケンポナシ[2]
Korean
  • 헛개나무[2]
Portuguese
  • uva-do-japão[2]
  • uva-japonesa[2]
Russian
  • Говения сладкая[2]
Slovak
  • hovénia sladká[2]
Spanish
  • Palo dulce[2]
Language not specified
  • Japanese raisintree[1]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Hovenia dulcis Thunb. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Japanese raisintree — VernacularName.tsv, line 167968; taxon 3MRB8.
[2] Hovenia dulcis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Japanese Raisin Tree — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • 헛개나무 — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • dužistopka sladká — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • ケンポナシ — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • 北枳椇 — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • 拐枣 — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • 鸡爪梨 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • Palo dulce — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • uva-do-japão — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • Говения сладкая — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • 北枳椇 — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • עץ הצימוק היפני — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • הובניה מתוקה — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • hovénia sladká — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • uva-japonesa — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.

General information

Scientific name: Hovenia dulcis
Accepted name (Kew): Hovenia dulcis Thunb. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [3] [4]
Botanical family: Rhamnaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Hovenia (WCVP v16).

Sources [3]
Also known as: Japanese Raisin Tree
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree
Catalogue size class: Medium
Height: 8–12 m

RHS ultimate size range in UK growing conditions; cultivar, rootstock and pruning affect size.

Sources [1]
Spread: 7.00 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [5]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [5]
Growth habit: Ascending, Erect, Open, Oval, Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [5]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [5]
Soil moisture:
Moist, Well-drained

Preferred growing conditions. Moisture and drainage are different properties; well-drained soil is not necessarily dry.

Sources [1]
Soil:
Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [5]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [5]
Light:
Dappled Sunlight, Full sun
Sources [5]

Uses

Edible parts:
Mature swollen flower stalks (peduncles)

Only mature swollen flower stalks (peduncles) are described here as food.

Sources [1] [2]
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Wood, Food forest, Fragrant

Description

Hovenia dulcis produces sweet, edible swollen flower stalks, often called peduncles. These stalks are distinct from the seed-bearing fruits.

The edible part is the mature, swollen flower stalk, not ordinary stems or the seed-bearing fruit.

Sources [1] [2]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/09
Harvest ends: 30/10

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Horticultural Society Hovenia dulcis — RHS Plant Profile
    Supports: DescriptionSoil moistureEdible partsHeight
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Description; Foliage; Cultivation; Potentially harmful, where applicable
    • Soil moisture: Growing conditions: Moisture; Cultivation
    • Edible parts: Description; Foliage; Cultivation; Potentially harmful, where applicable
    • Height: Size > Max Height

    Source checked on .

  2. World Agroforestry Centre Hovenia dulcis — Agroforestree Database 4.0
    Supports: DescriptionEdible parts
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Pages 1 and 3; botanical description and Products: Food
    • Edible parts: Pages 1 and 3; botanical description and Products: Food

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1412093; name ID 2853954; Hovenia Thunb.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1412158; name ID 2853957; Hovenia dulcis Thunb..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  4. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Hovenia dulcis

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 393054, ID 3MRB8: Hovenia dulcis Thunb. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  5. North Carolina State University Hovenia dulcis — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Growth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .