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Decaisnea fargesii - Franch.

Common Name Blue Sausage Fruit
Family Lardizabalaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Moist woods and thickets to 1600 metres[109]. Mixed forests, scrub on mountain slopes, wet area in ravines at elevations of 900 - 3600 metres[266].
Range E. Asia - W. China
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Decaisnea fargesii Blue Sausage Fruit


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Decaisnea fargesii Blue Sausage Fruit
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Decaisnea fargesii is a deciduous Shrub growing to 4 m (13ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf from April to October, in flower in June, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw[1, 105]. A sweet taste, but rather insipid[109]. A very nice delicate flavour according to our palates[K]. The fruit looks like a bright blue sausage or broad bean pod[K] and is up to 10cm long[200]. You peel off the skin in much the same way as you would peel a broad bean pod, this reveals a line of seed running the entire length of the fruit surrounded by a relatively thin layer of flesh[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant[182] succeeding in most soils[202], but it prefers a rich moist loamy soil and a sunny position sheltered from cold winds[175, 200]. Succeeds in partial shade[200]. Prefers partial shade, succeeding in full sun if the soil is reliably moist[202]. Dislikes drought[K]. A very cold-hardy plant when fully dormant, but the flowers and young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts[11, 200]. Plants usually fruit well and regularly in Cornwall[11, 58] and a specimen has been seen on a number of occasions at Kew Botanical gardens laden down with fruit[K]. The flowers are produced at the tips of the new upright growths in the spring[11, 202]. Plants take some years from seed to produce fruit[202]. A very ornamental plant[1]. It is fairly fast growing but it looks gaunt and open in the winter[182]. Plants do not usually require pruning[202]. In some new floras, this species is seen as no more than a synonym for D. insignis[266]. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 9 through 7. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is multistemmed with multiple stems from the crown [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[200], it then usually germinates freely in early spring[K]. Sow stored seed in February in a greenhouse. This usually germinates well, within 1 - 3 months at 18°c[175]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on under protection for their first winter. Plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Cuttings.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Wu-yueh-kua-t'eng, Maoshigua, Yexiongjiao, Maoershi,

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Asia, Australia, Canada, China*, Himalayas, North America, USA,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Decaisnea insignis Shrub3.5 7-10  LMHNM20 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Franch.

Botanical References

11200266

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Bridget Mackwood   Wed Oct 17 2007

Not only is this edible and yes quite dull but it is full of pectin and a great additive to jams and jellies as a form of natural pectin.

Colin Measures   Sat May 9 2009

Where in East Anglia England can I purchase this plant.

Bruce Anderson   Thu Oct 15 2009

I have it growing in my garden in Wivenhoe and have just picked some pods full of seeds - you are welcome to some. You can find me in the phone book.

Paul Barney   Wed Dec 30 2009

Can suffer from damage by late frosts in Berkshire, but recovers well each time. Thrives in part-shade.

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