Japanese Raisin Tree

Japanese Raisin Tree - Hovenia dulcis

This is a weird one!! Native to East Asia, this deciduous small tree forms edible sweet fruit on the ends of its swollen stem parts. These can be eaten raw or cooked and when dried they look and taste like raisins (hence the name). Its also an unusual ornamental shade tree with lovely heart shaped leaves.

Aaaaaand its only hardy to zone 5. And yes, here in the Bonnechere Valley it is zone 4b. So what the heck am I doing growing this tree??! Well, I like to see what I can get away with as a gardener. Its fun to push the limits! I'm also cognizant of climate change and this is perhaps my own odd little way of preparing my garden for some of it. Its possible and very likely that soon this area will indeed be zone 5. Its already shifted up a zone in the past few years. So if I can plant this tree somewhere protected it might just make it. I'll have a limited number of  Japanese Raisin Tree saplings for sale in the spring if any other adventurous gardeners want to take a chance with me.