Cudrania, 'Edible Landscaping Seedless' Che Chinese melonberry

Cudrania tricuspidata 'Edible Landscaping Seedless' 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. Self-fertile seedless female trees bear a prolific crop of maroon-red, 1/2" fruit. Ripe fruit have a sweet flavor which is often compared to that of a fig with notes of watermelon. 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 cultivar comes from Edible Landscaping in Afton, VA.  Site requirements: Full sun location. Che will grow in a range of soil types provided that the roots stay evenly moist throughout the heat of the summer. Deep, well drained loam is ideal. Size at maturity: 10-30' tall, up to 25' wide, dependin