Cudrania, 'Edible Landscaping Seedless' Che Chinese melonberry

Cudrania tricuspidata 'Edible Landscaping Seedless'

Name in Chinese and pin yin: 柘 zhe

Variety description: This under appreciated fruit is a relative of mulberry and fig, and is native to central China. In addition to being grown for its fruit, traditionally Che leaves were used as a secondary food source for silk worms. Self-fertile seedless female trees bear a prolific crop of maroon-red, 1/2" fruit. Ripe fruit have a sweet flavor which is often compared to that of a fig with notes of watermelon.

We graft our Che onto Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) rootstock so that as the plant matures it will develop less of a bush and more of a standard tree form. Young plants have small thorns. 

This cultivar comes from Edible Landscaping in Afton, VA. 

Site requirements: Full sun location. Che will grow in a range of soil types provided that the roots stay evenly moist throughout the heat of the summer. Deep, well drained loam is ideal.

Size at maturity: 10-30' tall, up to 25' wide, depending on pruning. Keep it pruned for a smaller size. Very fast growing.

Hardiness: USDA zones 5b-9. There are some reports of Che growing in USDA zone 5. Cooler climates may have insufficient summer heat to fully ripen the fruit.

Pests and Diseases: None observed. Birds will eat the fruit if you are late to harvest and deer may browse both the fruit and foliage. We protect young trees with a circle  of wire mesh to keep the deer away.

Plant size: Grafted tree. Grown and shipped in tall tree pot (4" x 9").

When we ship: Fall 2023/Spring 2024.

Shipping restrictions: None.