8-25' × 10-15' Small deciduous flowering tree or multi-stemmed shrub is highly ornamental with many edible parts.
Glossy green compound leaves are reminiscent of mountain ash (Sorbus) as the species name implies. Star-shaped white flowers in May have eye-catching centers that start out yellow and progress to dark maroon. Both leaves and flowers are edible and make a floral protein-rich tea.
Leathery green 2–3" round or pear-shaped fruits develop in early summer, each fruit containing about a dozen glossy purple-black seeds that are rich, oily and nutty, comparable to macadamias. Seeds can be slightly bitter raw but are delicious roasted. The fatty kernels contain somewhere between 40–72% oil, which makes this a promising crop for pressing.
Highly adaptable, hardy and drought tolerant. Full sun for best flower and seed production. Native to northern China. Zone 4.
Maine Grown. NEW!