Elaeocarpus hainanensis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- El-lee-oh-kar-PUS hy-nan-EN-sis
- Description
-
Hainan Elaeocarpus is a small, flowering, ornamental, evergreen tree or large shrub native to China and Indo-China. It is commonly found in moist, tropical forests near streams or low wetlands. It grows up to 16 feet tall with a wide canopy. When in blossom, the tree's branches are covered with sweetly scented white flowers set against glossy, green leaves. This plant is a member of the Elaeocarpus family (Elaeocarpaceae). The genus name Elaeocarpus is derived from two Greek words: elia, meaning olive, and karpos, meaning fruit. This references the fruits resembling olives. The specific epithet hainanensis means from Hainan, which is a province in South China.
Prefers full sun with some afternoon shade and moist to moderately damp, well-drained, acidic soils, but best to avoid clay soils. It easily adapts to riparian areas. Pruning should be done in late winter to early spring to maintain the tree's shape. It is generally hardy in zones 9 to 11. Be sure to protect from wind and frost.
The foliage is leathery and lance-shaped. The blooms are clusters of creamy-white, bell-shaped flowers with fringed petals. Flowering occurs in June to July, and spindle-shaped green drupes follow from July to September.
Consider for use in an Asian Garden. It is also suitable for bonsai.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant insect pests or diseases. Monitor for aphids, scale, or mealybugs. Typically, disease-resistant.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Elaeocarpus hainanensis var. brachphyllus
variety native of North and West Hainan - Elaeocarpus hainanensis var. hainanensis
variety native to Southeast Yunnan, Guangdong, South Guangxi, China to Indo-China
- Elaeocarpus hainanensis var. brachphyllus
- Elaeocarpus hainanensis var. brachphyllus, Elaeocarpus hainanensis var. hainanensis
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Elaeocarpus hainanensis var. brachphyllus
variety native of North and West Hainan - Elaeocarpus hainanensis var. hainanensis
variety native to Southeast Yunnan, Guangdong, South Guangxi, China to Indo-China
- Elaeocarpus hainanensis var. brachphyllus
- Elaeocarpus hainanensis var. brachphyllus, Elaeocarpus hainanensis var. hainanensis
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Elaeocarpus
- Species:
- hainanensis
- Family:
- Elaeocarpaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of stress or hypertension. The flowers produce essential oils that may be used as a moisturizer.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China to Indo-China
- Distribution:
- Native: South-Central China, Southeast China, Hainan, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Fragrance
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought
- Edibility:
- Fruit is not edible.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Dense
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is green and turns blue when ripe. It is woody, smooth, spindle-shaped drupe, measuring up to 2 inches long and 0.5 inches wide. The ends of the fruit are acute, and the interior is hard with 1 locule, covering the 0.75-inch-long seed. Fruits appear from July to September.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Fringed cream to white bell-shaped flowers appear during the summer on racemes in groups of 2 to 6 at the leaf axils and have a sweet fragrance. The five-petaled flowers are about 1.5 inches in diameter. The petals are obovate, and the sepals are lanceolate and as long as the petals. The bracts are sessile and ovate. The ovary is ovoid, smooth, with 2 locules. Blooms from June to July
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Denticulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are green, simple, alternate, glossy, narrowly lanceolate or oblanceolate, with an acute apex, a cuneate base, and denticulate margins. They measure 2 to 6 inches long and 0.5 to 1.5 inches wide. The upper surface is dark green, smooth with a slightly hairy midvein, and the underside is paler and may be hairy or smooth. The leaves cluster at the stem apex. The petiole is up to 0.5 inches long and smooth.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- The bark is smooth to slightly fissured, grayish-brown.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems may be pubescent or glabrous.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Small Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Diseases
- Drought
