What plant is Exochorda racemosa? Let's get to know this woody plant

Exochorda racemosa family and genus

Rosaceae, Exochorda

Exochorda racemosa aliases

Cocoon flower, jiuhuotou, golden melon fruit, Latin scientific name: Exochorda racemosa

Origin of Exochorda racemosa

Exochorda racemosa originates from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang area of China, and is currently distributed in North China and Central China as well.

Growth habits of Exochorda racemosa

Exochorda racemosa likes a warm and humid climate. It likes light but is also tolerant of shade, and has strong cold resistance; it does not have high soil requirements, and can grow in acidic soil, neutral soil, and poor soil. Of course, it grows more vigorously in fertile, breathable soil, and its sprouting ability is stronger.

Morphological characteristics of Exochorda racemosa

Exochorda racemosa is a deciduous shrub, but it often appears in the form of a small tree. The plant can reach up to 5 m tall. The branches of Exochorda racemosa are hairless and angular, reddish brown when young. The leaves are oblong-elliptic or obovate, with rounded blunt tips, alternate simple leaves, short petioles, and grayish white leaf undersides; the flowers of Exochorda racemosa are bisexual, with obovate petals about 1.5 cm long, slightly blunt apex, and a bell-shaped calyx tube.

Common varieties of Exochorda racemosa

Red-stalked Exochorda racemosa: this type has longer petioles, about 2 cm, and they are red, hence the name. The flower stalks are extremely short, almost stalkless.

Serrate-leaved Exochorda racemosa: its main characteristic is that the upper middle part of the leaf has sharp serrations, and the young parts are slightly covered with soft hairs.