Che

Che: The Hidden Gem of Edible Landscapes

One of the most underappreciated fruits in the edible gardening world – the Che (Maclura tricuspidata), also known as the Melonberry, Chinese Mulberry or Cudrang. This fantastic tree is about to become your new favorite addition to you landscape.

Imagine a fruit that combines the best qualities of a mulberry and a fig, with a hint of watermelon sweetness. These small, round, reddish fruits are not only delicious but also packed with nutrients. Plus, the tree itself is a beauty, with glossy green leaves that turn a vibrant yellow in fall, adding interest to your landscape.

At Humble Abode Nursery, we’re excited to offer this rare and wonderful tree. Our Che plants are carefully nurtured, ensuring you receive robust, healthy specimens that will thrive in your garden. 

Growing Conditions and Care: Che trees are surprisingly easy to grow and adaptable to various conditions. They prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade. While they appreciate well-drained, fertile soil, they’re not picky and can handle less-than-ideal conditions once established.

Plant your Che in spring or fall, giving it plenty of space to grow – it can reach 20-30 feet tall and wide. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a strong root system. After that, it’s relatively drought-tolerant. Pruning is minimal; just remove any dead or crossing branches in late winter.

One of the best features of the Che is its resistance to pests and diseases. This means less work for you and more time enjoying your harvest!

Hardiness and Pollination: Che trees are hardy in USDA zones 5-9, making them suitable for a wide range of climates. However the fruit needs quite a bit of heat to ripen, so put them in your hottest microclimate if you live in zone 5 or 6. Ripening in zone 5 is sometimes not possible. Ripening in zone 6 is possible but may not always happen depending on the year. In zones 7-9 ripening is much more reliable. Apparently a male pollinator can reportedly help fruit ripen a bit faster and decrease the amount of fruit dropped. It may also increase fruit size and yield. We’re currently trialling this. We recommend planting Male pollinator trees for zones 6 and below.

Why choose Humble Abode Nursery’s Che trees? Our dedication to quality is unmatched. We carefully select and propagate from the healthiest, most productive parent plants. Our bare-root trees have robust root systems that establish quickly, giving you a faster path to fruit production. Plus, our growing practices mean you’re getting plants that are not only healthier but also better for the environment.

These are grafted onto osage orange rootstock.

Variety Info:

‘Darrow’— This Che is propagated from a tree once grown by the legendary USDA plant breeder Dr. George M. Darrow.

“Daniecki Male’—This male Che selection also traces back to the respected nurseryman Cliff England, who propagated it from scion wood shared by Ted Daniecki. Ted discovered the original tree growing wild in New Jersey and recognized its value—it was chosen for propagation because it produces abundant pollen, ensuring reliable fruit set for female Che trees.

‘Hwang Kum #2’—A new Korean cultivar with very large fruit—also the one with the best chance of ripening in zone 5, according to epic fruit grower Cliff England.

‘Norris’—This cultivar was also discovered by nurseryman Cliff England in an old orchard of unusual fruit trees that was originally planted in the 1930s near the TVA’s Norris Dam in northern Tennessee.