Che (Chinese Mulberry)

This under appreciated fruit is a relative of mulberry, fig and breadfruit tree! Although native to central China this variety was found growing in a unique orchard in Tennessee. It is a self-fertile seedless female tree that bears a prolific crop of maroon-red, 1/2″ fruit. Ripe fruit has a sweet flavor which is often compared to that of a fig with notes of watermelon. It has been grafted onto Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) rootstock so that as the plant matures it will develop less of a bush and more of a standard tree form. Young plants have small thorns. Hardy to zone 5 it will grow to be a 15-20′ tree, can be kept smaller with pruning.