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Cudrania tricuspidata - (Carrière.)Bur. ex Lav.

Common Name Silkworm Thorn, Storehousebush
Family Moraceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rocky slopes and roadsides in W. China[109]. Sunny forest margins and mountain slopes at elevations of 500 - 2200 metres[266].
Range E. Asia - China, Japan and Korea.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Cudrania tricuspidata Silkworm Thorn, Storehousebush


Cudrania tricuspidata Silkworm Thorn, Storehousebush

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Cudrania tricuspidata is a deciduous Tree growing to 6 m (19ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower in July. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). . The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

C. triloba. Maclura tricuspidata.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Secondary; Sunny Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Leaves
Edible Uses:

Fruit - fresh or preserved[1, 22, 61]. Somewhat like a mulberry[183]. The firm fruit is relatively tasteless, when soft-ripe it is sub-acid to sweet and some forms can be quite delicious[46, 105, 109, 151, 183]. It contains lots of large seeds[151]. The fruit is about 25mm in diameter[200]. Leaves - a famine food[179].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiperiodic  Galactogogue  Malaria  Ophthalmic  Women's complaints

An infusion of the wood is used to treat sore or weak eyes[178, 218]. The inner bark and the wood are used in the treatment of malaria, debility and menorrhagia[178, 218]. The root is galactogogue and is also used in the treatment of amenorrhoea[218]. The plant is used to eliminate blood stasis and stimulate the circulation in cancer of the alimentary system, blood and lungs[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye  Fibre  Wood

A yellow dye is obtained from the wood[178]. The bark fibers are used for making paper[266]. Wood - finely grained. Used for utensils[178].

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a warm well-drained fertile loam[1, 188]. Requires a sunny position[188]. A very hardy plant[1]. The leaves are a food source for silk-worms[1, 11]. Probably only the male tree is in cultivation in Britain, though at least one selected female form is being grown in N. America[183]. Both male and female plants normally need to be grown if fruit or seed is required but male trees occasionally produce a few small fruits[183]. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 9 through 5. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. A sprouting standard sending up shoots from the base [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[188]. Sow stored seed in early spring in a cold frame. 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 half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[188, K]. Cuttings of mature wood, November in a sandy soil in a frame[1].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(Carrière.)Bur. ex Lav.

Botanical References

11200266

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Dave Hamilton   Wed Sep 30 2009

I found the fruit to be rather tasteless on it's own but very useful when adding colour to jellies, making it pinkish, like quince.

   Nov 29 2010 12:00AM

This is a very invasive plant it roots spread EVERYWHERE. You can't contain it it grows under the sidewalk under the street to the neighbor's yard. I have been digging it up for 25 years and can't get rid of it it entangles itself in the roots of azaleas and other shrubs.

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Subject : Cudrania tricuspidata  
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