Japanese name: ヒトツバタゴ Scientific name:Chionanthus retusus
[Overview]
A deciduous tree with a limited distribution, found in sunny, moist places, reaching 30 m in height and 70 cm in diameter.
The leaves are simple and opposite, long elliptical to broadly ovate, 4–10 cm long, with entire margins.
Young trees and vigorous shoots sometimes bear doubly serrate or finely serrate leaves.
The petiole is 1.5–3 cm long.
The plants are dioecious.
Conical cymes 7–12 cm long are borne at the tips of the current year's branches.
The flowers are white, and the corolla is deeply divided into 4 lobes.
Female trees bear elliptical fruits 1 cm long, which ripen blackish purple.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
Germination rate drops when the seeds dry out, so sow them immediately after collecting.
It grows large and takes up space, so a wide site is needed.
It prefers cool, adequately moist land, and fertile, sunny, moist soil.
It dislikes dryness and strong afternoon sun in summer.
Water enough to keep it from drying out.
In winter, apply organic fertilizer around the base of the plant.
Pruning is not particularly necessary, but if it bothers you, just thin out branches that are in the way.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
