Cudrania, 'Daniecki' male Che Chinese Melonberry

Cudrania tricuspidata 'Daniecki' Name in Chinese and pin yin: 柘 zhe Variety description: This under appreciated fruit is a relative of mulberry and fig, and is native to central China. In addition to being grown for its fruit, traditionally Che leaves were used as a secondary food source for silk worms. Male trees produce a profusion pollen bearing berries which drop off after the pollen is shed. This tree should be must be planted with a female selection such as 'Norris' or 'Darrow' if fruit is desired. Pollinated fruit will be larger and produce seed. We graft our Che 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.  This selection of male che comes to us from renowned nurseryman Cliff England. He in turn received the original scion material from Ted Daniecki, who found the original tree growing in somewhere in New Jersey. It was selected for propagation becaus