Prinsepia uniflora aka Prinsepia

Prinsepia uniflora is a deciduous shrub from China. It belongs to the rose family, Rosaceae. Rui Ren is one recorded common name. Its native range covers several parts of northern and central China. These include Gansu, Henan, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Sichuan. It also grows in Inner Mongolia and Ningxia. The species comes from temperate regions, rather than tropical ones.

In gardens, it reaches about 6 feet (1.8 metres) tall. Its spread can reach about 10 feet (3 metres). This makes it wider than it is tall. It loses its leaves for winter. In the wild, it grows on loess plateaux between woodland and steppe. It also occupies sunny slopes, valley ravines, and hill bases. Recorded sites lie at elevations of 800–2,200 metres. A sunny woodland edge suits its garden use. It can also grow in dappled shade.

Flowers appear in April and May, early enough to face frost damage. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects carry pollen between the flowers. Reports place the blooms on last year's growth or older wood. Full sun helps the plant flower and fruit well. The juicy fruit looks like a cherry. Each fruit measures about 0.6 inches across and holds one large seed. Seeds ripen from July to September. In Britain, fruiting depends on a long, hot summer.

Choose moderately fertile soil that drains well but stays moist. The shrub accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It also grows in mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline ground. Full sun gives the best flowering and fruiting. Light shade remains a suitable choice where sun is limited. The plant withstands strong winds, but not exposed coastal conditions. PFAF lists USDA zones 4–8 and reports hardiness near −20°C. Cold tolerance does not protect early flowers from spring frost.

The fruit can be eaten fresh or cooked. PFAF gives its food value two out of five. It reports no known hazards, but this does not establish safety for pets. The same source records no known medicinal or other uses. Seeds benefit from two months of cold stratification before sowing. Autumn sowing is preferred where possible. Grow young plants under cover through their first winter. Half-ripe cuttings offer another way to raise plants in July or August.