When I research Che fruit, I could not find anything like that growing in China, even it is called Chinese mulberry. But I found another small fruit called Chinese bayberry, myrica rubra.
It is very commonly grown in China. I try to remember the taste of it.
Since I know a lot of this group is in the pacific north west maybe graft to this.
M. gale
maybe better to start native seeds anyways ,
and buy less plants since they are expensive
(buy one or 2 and graft instead to your established native seeds you planted )
I learned a lot of these unusual plants long ago,
but try not to read up on stuff any longer unless I plan to use it so forgot most of what I read , and have no first hand experience …
I remember now the leaves are used for beer maybe I will try to gather since it is in 15 miles away (in the mortem Arboretum in Lisle IL.)
I did some research and was thinking using m gale to graft also. Do you happen to know normally how many degree lower can the grafted plants bear. Marysville coldest winter (record low -1 degree) will definitely kill the plant, although it doesn’t happen often. The plant can only survive short period of 15 degree.
I do not know actually wouldn’t be able to know as of now where to find the information of grafting causing how much more cold tolerance.
I mean what terminology would I even search?
I think you might have to bury the graft as well?
I think wrapping with burlap, and or placing Christmas lights could protect them on their own roots.
I often wonder How many generations of seed be grown to adapt to the cold I know one could graft to speed up the seed baring process , and get generations faster from each seeds offspring.
Edit I do see the plant only survives down to 15 degree’s , but I have heard that so often I do not always believe it since it is repeated so much, and a lot of tree’s grow here that are not suppose to .
(like Bald cypress for instance, white oak (that are old), and many others.)
I’m pretty sure the Chinese variety is used as a landscape plant in the middle school near my house in Seattle, and has survived a few winters and fruits every year. So yours will probably do fine! PM me if you want to know the location so you can check it out.
EDIT: Scratch that, I just walked over and looked at it and I was completely wrong. Looks like it’s actually Arbutus unedo, which just has vaguely similar looking fruit. My mistake!
I have read to many conflicting reports of its hardness. But all signs point to it not having enough cold tollerance for Zone 7 USA. And at over $100 +sh for the few that show up on ebay I have not been daring enough to take the chance.
I can say the frozen ones I have had are delicious and I cant Imagin why there not being exported. I Guese they must have a short shelf life.
I’m also having a hard time learning about this fruit in English. Ended up looking it up on Douyin and came across this video which tracks it across a single season.
I was looking into importing it. USDA appears to allow it. Prices are still high from the one place that gave me a quote. 12 plants for $168 each.