Eriobotrya deflexa
Credits
Article from New Trees by John Grimshaw & Ross Bayton
Recommended citation
'Eriobotrya deflexa' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.
Editorial Note
Text published here is derived from New Trees, adapted where necessary to reflect revisions to taxonomy. A fuller, revised treatment will be provided when funding is available. If you would like to sponsor the account of this genus please write to editor@treesandshrubsonline.org
Tree 5–12 m, dbh ≥ 40 cm. Branchlets stout and greyish brown, densely tomentose when young. Leaves clustered at branch apices, leathery, (9–)10–19 × (1.5–)3–7 cm, oblong to lanceolate or obovate, initially tomentose on both surfaces, upper surface lustrous, midrib prominent, 10–12 secondary veins on each side of the midrib, margins irregularly crenate and revolute, apex caudate to acuminate; petiole 2–4 cm long, glabrous; stipules caducous. Panicles 6–8 cm diameter, densely tomentose. Flowers 1.5–1.8 cm diameter; hypanthium cup-shaped, brown-tomentose; sepals acute to obtuse, brown-tomentose below, slightly shorter than hypanthium; petals white, orbicular to obovate; stamens 20. Fruit yellowish red, subglobose, 1.2–2 cm diameter with reflexed sepals. Flowering May to June, fruiting June to August (China). Gu et al. 2003
Distribution China Guangdong, Hainan Vietnam Taiwan
Habitat Broadleaved forest on slopes and in valleys, between 1000m and 2100m
USDA Hardiness Zone 8
Conservation status Least concern (LC)
In the warmer parts of the United States Eriobotrya deflexa is widely used as an evergreen landscaping tree, valued for its handsome leathery foliage that flushes a warm red-bronze, and its abundant panicles of white flowers. The plant is often pruned to form a single stem with a dense rounded crown. It is, however, regarded as being short-lived, with a susceptibility to fireblight (Gilman & Watson 2014). In our area it is quite widely grown and readily available commercially, but its tolerances are not yet clear. According to Sean Hogan (pers. comm. 2006) it is marginal in Portland, but does better along the Oregon coast. At Tregrehan it is making a good specimen, and it is also grown at Glasnevin, against a warm wall. It is certainly a tree to try in warm sheltered situations.
A selected clone named ‘Bronze Improved’ is sold on the strength of enhanced coloration in the spring flush. The interesting series of bigeneric hybrids between E. deflexa and Rhaphiolepis indica have been referred to the nothospecies ×Rhaphiobotrya splendens Hodel & Greby (Hodel & Greby 2020).
