Bark interest is significant, particularly on two and three-year old wood. Branches are glabrous and shoots are stout and pithy with uniquely striated bark, best described as a snakeskin webbing of white lines on a chocolate-purple background. While tolerant of part shade, the species achieves greatest density and fruit show in full sun. Performance is improved in slightly acid soils and the species appears to tolerate wet to dry conditions, clay to sand. We have observed no pest problems.
Propagation remains complex and seedling growth is slow the first year.
Mitzi Hole of the JC Raulston Arboretum in North Carolina carries flats of seed through two seasons in a shade house and gets good emergence the second spring. JC told me that one batch of seed accidentally left for over a year in the cooler germinated at a high percentage. In the Arboretum, we do find chance seedlings near our heavy fruiting trees but the number is few. We have had some problem with sudden deaths of seedlings in seedling flats but this has always been a case of neglect. Container-grown plants respond to heavy fertilization.