Pollinator plant

Japanese Raisin Tree

Hovenia dulcis

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Common names

22 names · 13 languages
EnglishYour language
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Raisin hovenia[1]
  • Sweet Stick[1]
Other languages (12)
Dutch
  • Japanse krentenboom
  • Japanse rozijnenboom
French
  • Arbre à Raisins du Japon
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • dužistopka sladká[3]
Hebrew
  • הובניה מתוקה[3]
  • עץ הצימוק היפני[3]
Japanese
  • ケンポナシ[3]
Korean
  • 헛개나무[3]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Говения сладкая[3]
Slovak
  • hovénia sladká[3]
Spanish
Sources & name notes (4)

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] Hovenia dulcis — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Japanese Raisin Tree — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Hovenia dulcis.
  • Japanese Raisintree — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Hovenia dulcis.
  • Oriental Raisin Tree — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Hovenia dulcis.
  • Raisin hovenia — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Hovenia dulcis.
  • Sweet Stick — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Hovenia dulcis.
[2] Hovenia dulcis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Japanese Raisin Tree — results[0].names[1]; 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.
  • uva-japonesa — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
[3] 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.
  • Palo dulce — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • uva-do-japão — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 163847; Hovenia dulcis.
  • uva-japonesa — results[0].names[15]; 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.
  • 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.
[4] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Hovenia dulcis ↗

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.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Hovenia dulcis is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Rhamnaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Plant habit
Ascending; Erect; Open; Oval; Rounded

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
C. & S. China to Japan.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Fruit tree
Size
Medium
Dimensions
10.00 m high × 7.00 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
5-9
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Fruit
Functions
Timber, Voedselbos, Fragrant
Edibility
3 out of 5
Medicinal value
2 out of 5

Fruit - raw or cooked. They can be dried like raisins and have a sweet taste and texture, allowing them to be used in the same way. The fruit has a sweet, pear-like flavor and a pleasant aroma. The fruit body is sweet and juicy, although it is not technically a true fruit, but rather a swollen vessel. The fruit body can grow up to 3 cm long and contains 11.4% glucose, 4.7% fructose, and 12.6% sucrose. A sweet extract made from the seeds, branches, and young leaves can be used as a substitute for honey. The seeds contain 15% protein and 7.8% fat.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Hovenia dulcis — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 393054; ID 3MRB8; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 393054; ID 3MRB8; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Hovenia dulcis — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Plant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Hovenia dulcis — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1412158; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1440770, 1440771, 1440772, 1440773, 1440774

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.