This year, Eriobotrya Japonica has pleased us with fruit. This beautiful evergreen spreading tree with a height of up to 8 m (26 ft) is native to Japan, China and is a close relative of the apple tree. It grows fast. It begins to bear fruit from 5-6 years.
When we first came to the botanical garden, we were invited to the nursery for a “tasting”. The fruits were collected in barrels, given to eat as much as possible, but with one condition-to leave large shiny seeds, which were planted immediately, since the delay did not give shoots.
But not every year is so productive. The fact is that the nondescript yellowish-white fragrant flowers bloom from October to February. Their sweet aroma with bitter-citrus notes gathers the last bees. Warm winters keep the ovary intact; it can withstand a short-term drop in temperature to -5 °C (23°F), but temperatures below this are disastrous.
Ripe fruits, similar to small yellow apples, have a fragrant, sweet and sour pulp, inside which there are 3-4 seeds.
Fresh seeds containing prussic acid, poisonous, but roasted and ground into a powder, are a substitute for almonds or a substitute for coffee.