Holboellia angustifolia
Wall.
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GBIF
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
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MBG
Description
Holboellia angustifolia is an evergreen Climber. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw. Often considered to be insipid, it is a startling metallic-blue colour, sausage-shaped with many black seeds in the white pulp. The fruit can be up to 8cm long and 5cm wide.
Medicinal Uses
The roots and stems are used medicinally. No further information is given.
Distribution
E. Asia - Himalayas to C. China.
Where It Grows
TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Anhui Sheng, Guangdong Sheng, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Guizhou Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Xizang Zizhiqu (east), Yunnan Sheng) TROPICAL ASIA: Bhutan, India (Sikkim, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh), Nepal, Myanmar (north)
Cultivation
Easily grown in any fertile soil in sun or part shade. Plants grow best on a shady wall or when grown into a tree. They succeed in sun or deep shade, but fruits are much more likely to be produced when the plants are grown in a sunny position. Not fully hardy in Britain, it is probably hardier than the closely related H. coriacea, tolerating temperatures down to about -15°c but it can be damaged by prolonged periods below -5°c. Plants are hardy at Kew but they do not fruit freely in this country. Hand pollination would probably help, fruits are more likely to form in hot summers. There is also some doubt as to whether the plants are monoecious or dioecious, it would be best to grow at least two distinct plants (not cuttings from one plant) and make sure that male and female flowers are present. The flowers are sweetly and heavily scented. The males are produced on the previous years wood whilst females are produced on the current years wood. Plants are fast growing and climb by means of twining. This genus is closely related to Stauntonia spp.
Propagation
Seed - we have no details on this species but suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe if this is possible, otherwise as soon as you obtain it, in a warm greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of softwood. Cuttings of half-ripe wood in late summer or autumn. Layering.
