Ché fruit (Maclura tricuspidata) may be one of the best little-known fruits for an edible landscape. Sweet, beautiful, unusual, cold-hardy and remarkably resilient, Ché can produce generous crops while asking surprisingly little from the gardener.
Che (sometimes written Ché) is also known as Mandarin melon berry, Chinese mulberry, cudrang and silkworm thorn. Che is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the mulberry family, Moraceae. Its accepted botanical name is now Maclura tricuspidata; the older name Cudrania tricuspidata is still commonly encountered.
We’ve been growing our seedless Che for around 13 years, and if we had to sum up our experience with this tree in one sentence, it might be:
Che gives so much without asking for anything!
Our Che grows in the lower orchard here in North Carolina, on a steep slope in poor, rocky soil. Before we lived here, it received little attention. Since then, it has endured periods of drought as well as significant deer browsing — enough browsing that some of its lower limbs have died.
Yet year after year, the rest of the tree carries on, thrives and produces another beautiful crop.
If you enjoy incorporating food-producing plants into the landscape, see more of our foodscaping and edible landscaping ideas.
Our approximately 13-year-old Che tree growing on a steep, rocky orchard slope. Despite poor soil, drought, earlier neglect and ongoing deer browsing, it continues to thrive and produce beautiful fruit.
Ché Fruit at a Glance
| Botanical name | Maclura tricuspidata |
| Former botanical name | Cudrania tricuspidata |
| Common names | Che, Mandarin melon berry, Chinese mulberry, cudrang, silkworm tree |
| Family | Moraceae — mulberry family |
| Plant type | Deciduous shrub or small fruit tree |
| Native range | China through Vietnam and South Korea |
| Hardiness | Generally USDA Zones 6–9 |
| Sun | Full sun preferred |
| Soil | Well-drained; notably tolerant once established |
| Fruit | Red to deep red/maroon, typically around 1 inch across |
| Flavor | Sweet; often compared with fig and melon |
| Harvest season | Late summer into fall, depending on climate and cultivar |
| Pollination | Naturally dioecious; some female selections produce seedless fruit without a male |
| Best uses | Fresh eating, edible landscaping, preserves, freezing and other fruit recipes |
Ché is an uncommon but promising edible-landscape plant. Virginia Cooperative Extension rates its fruit production as high and describes it as an attractive large shrub or small tree bearing abundant, sweet red-to-maroon fruit.
Virginia Cooperative Extension — Edible Landscape Species
What Is Che Fruit?
Che is one of those fruits that makes people stop and ask:
“What is THAT?”
The bright red fruits look a little like oversized raspberries growing on a tree. But botanically, Che isn’t a raspberry — or even technically a berry.
It belongs to the Moraceae family, making it a relative of mulberries, figs and Osage orange.
According to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Maclura tricuspidata is the currently accepted botanical name, and its native range extends from China through Vietnam and South Korea.
Kew Plants of the World Online — Maclura tricuspidata
The tree itself makes an attractive edible landscape plant, with glossy green foliage followed by striking clusters of red-to-maroon fruit.
Ripe Che fruits have a distinctive knobby surface and brilliant raspberry-red to deep-red coloring.
Che Isn’t Actually a Berry
Although one of its common names is Mandarin melon berry, Che —like mulberry— is technically a multiple fruit — also called a collective fruit.
Rather than developing from a single flower, multiple tiny clustered flowers contribute to the knobby round fruit we recognize as Che.
Mulberries and pineapple are other familiar examples of multiple fruits.
Look closely at a Che and those individual little bumps suddenly make much more sense!
[PHOTO: Close-up showing the individual sections of the fruit]
What Does Che Fruit Taste Like?
Che flavor is most often compared with fig and watermelon, although individual perceptions of its flavor vary.
Our seedless Che has a slightly firmer exterior when first picked, giving way to a softer, juicy interior. As the fruit becomes very ripe, it softens quickly and develops more of the squishy texture associated with a fresh fig.
The skin is edible, so the entire seedless fruit can be eaten.
And the important words here are fully ripe.
Che develops its best sweetness and flavor as it reaches full maturity on the tree.
Our Seedless Che Tree
Our tree came from Edible Landscaping in Virginia as a seedless Che selection.
We have fond memories of visiting Edible Landscaping and learning from horticulturist George Stewart. That’s also where some of our experience with another favorite edible and medicinal plant began — passion flower and passion fruit.
The seedless distinction matters because Che naturally occurs as separate male and female plants. However, selected female Che can produce parthenocarpic fruit — fruit that develops without fertilization — allowing a female tree to produce seedless fruit without a male pollinator.
Our single established tree has reliably produced fruit without a male Che nearby.
How to Harvest Che Fruit — There’s a Trick!
Che fruit can initially seem surprisingly difficult to pick.
If you try to pull the ripe fruit straight off or twist it, it doesn’t necessarily want to cooperate — and because ripe Che is soft, pulling or twisting can damage the fruit.
Fortunately, there’s an amazingly simple trick:
Bend it sideways.
Instead of pulling, bend the fruit to the side or fold it over against its attached stem. It pops right off!
Once you know this little trick, harvesting Che becomes much easier.
First Che Harvest of 2026
August 26, 2026 — 3.8 pounds from one tree!
This approximately 13-year-old Che grows in our lower orchard in poor, rocky soil on a steep slope. It has weathered neglect before we lived here, drought and deer browsing — yet year after year it gives us another beautiful, healthy harvest.
Che gives so much without asking for anything!
Che can seem difficult to pick if you pull or twist it. Instead, simply bend the ripe fruit sideways over its stem and it pops right off without damaging the fruit.
A darker red to maroon color is another indication of ripeness. Fully ripe fruit should release readily when handled this way.
Is Che Fruit Edible?
Yes. Ripe Che fruit is edible and delicious eaten right from the tree.
It can also be used in preserves, smoothies and juices, baked goods and other recipes wherever a soft, sweet fruit works well.
Because Che is still relatively uncommon in American gardens and markets, growing your own tree may be the easiest way to have a regular supply.
And an established tree can produce an impressive amount.
Our first picking alone on August 26, 2026 yielded 3.8 pounds from one tree, with more fruit still ripening.
Why Don’t We See Che Fruit in Grocery Stores?
One practical limitation of Che is that fully ripe fruit softens quickly.
Che develops its best flavor as it ripens on the tree, but the increasingly soft texture makes ripe fruit less suited to the long harvesting, shipping and storage chain required by conventional supermarkets.
For home growers, that’s less of a disadvantage. We can harvest fruit when it’s truly ripe and enjoy or preserve it promptly.
And a productive tree gives us plenty of incentive to experiment with freezing, freeze-drying, preserves and other ways to use a Che harvest.
Che Fruit Nutrition and Potential Health Benefits
Che has a history of use as both food and in traditional medicine in Asia, and modern researchers have begun studying its naturally occurring compounds.
A 2019 peer-reviewed study of Maclura tricuspidata fruit identified 18 polyphenolic compounds and examined carotenoid levels and antioxidant activity at different stages of fruit maturity.
Interestingly, the researchers found higher levels of the measured polyphenolic compounds in immature and premature fruit, while total carotenoids were higher in mature and overmature fruit.
These are intriguing findings, but laboratory measurements of antioxidant activity should not be interpreted as proof that eating Che treats or prevents disease.
We’ll explore the research much more thoroughly in our dedicated article on Che nutrition, health benefits and traditional medicinal uses.
Growing Che Fruit
One reason we’re particularly fond of this tree is just how forgiving it has been.
Che generally prefers:
- Full sun
- Well-drained soil
- Adequate moisture while becoming established
- Room to develop into a large shrub or small tree
Virginia Cooperative Extension lists Che for approximately USDA Zones 6–9 and describes it as relatively carefree, drought tolerant once established and essentially pest-free, although severe drought can contribute to premature fruit drop.
See Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Che growing information.
Our tree provides a useful real-world example of that toughness.
It isn’t growing in rich orchard loam.
It’s growing on a steep slope in poor, rocky ground — and has been doing so for roughly 13 years.
This is not pampered orchard soil. Our established Che has grown and fruited for years on this steep, rocky slope.
That doesn’t mean Che won’t appreciate good soil, mulch and supplemental water during drought.
It simply demonstrates just how adaptable an established tree can be.
Seedless Che, Male Trees and Pollination
This is one area where Che can initially sound confusing.
The species naturally has separate male and female plants — botanically described as dioecious.
However, selected female Che trees can produce parthenocarpic fruit — fruit without fertilization — allowing a single female selection to produce seedless fruit without a male pollinator.
So before buying a Che tree, find out exactly which cultivar or selection you’re purchasing and whether it requires a pollinator.
Propagating Che
Che can be propagated in several ways, and the method matters because seed-grown plants won’t necessarily duplicate the qualities of a particularly good fruiting tree.
Che is also sometimes grafted onto its close relative Osage orange (Maclura pomifera).
We’ll explore propagating Che from cuttings, suckers, seed and grafting in a separate guide, including what we learn from propagating our own tree.
Deer LOVE Che Leaves — Protect Young Trees!
This is one area where we learned the hard way, (AGAIN)!
Deer will browse Che.
In fact, we once planted a second young Che tree, and the deer promptly ate it to the ground.
Our mature tree has fared much better, but deer continue to browse the lower foliage and branches. Some of the dead lower limbs visible in our current photographs and harvesting video are the result of that repeated browsing.s
We’ve pruned most of that off now and will also be installing a deer fence around our orchard this year, thanks to help from NCRC, (Natural Resource Conservation Service)!
The dead lower limbs reveal years of deer browsing. Above the browsing zone, however, our mature Che remains vigorous and productive.
So if you have deer around, protect your young Che behind a cage or deer fence.
A mature Che may tolerate substantial browsing, but protect young trees from deer.
The remarkable part is seeing how well our established tree continues to grow and fruit despite that damage.
We’ve dealt with plenty of deer-versus-garden (and tree) challenges over the years. If you’re experiencing the same, see our experiences with natural deer deterrents and ways to keep deer out of the garden.
Do Birds Eat Ché Fruit?
Che has a reputation for receiving relatively little bird pressure, and birds have not been a significant problem on our seedless Che.
That’s quite a contrast to some of our other fruits. We’ve had years when birds made a substantial dent in our blueberry harvest.
Experiences with Che may vary according to local bird populations and the availability of other foods, so our advice is simple:
Watch your own tree before investing in netting or other bird protection.
You may discover, as we have, that the fruit receives surprisingly little bird pressure.
Other Che Pests and Problems
Another major attraction of Che is its reputation for having relatively few serious insect or disease problems.
Virginia Cooperative Extension describes it as essentially pest-free.
In our experience, wildlife — particularly deer — has been a much more significant issue than insects or disease.
Where NOT to Plant a Che Tree
Here’s one small but useful lesson that’s easy to overlook:
Don’t plant a heavily fruiting Che directly beside light-colored pavement.
Very ripe fruit that falls can stain concrete, sidewalks and driveways.
An orchard, edible landscape, food forest or lawn location where dropped fruit isn’t a problem makes more sense.
You’ll also appreciate being able to get around the tree comfortably during harvest season.
Is Che Invasive?
Che is not native to North America, so gardeners should consider how any non-native plant behaves locally before adding it to the landscape.
Che growing on its own roots can sucker, while grafted trees may behave differently. That makes the plant’s rootstock and propagation method worth knowing before planting.
We have not observed our approximately 13-year-old tree behaving aggressively or invasively in our orchard.
That’s our firsthand experience with this particular tree rather than proof of how Che will behave everywhere, so we’ll continue observing and documenting it.
Is Che Worth Growing?
For us, the answer is an enthusiastic yes.
Consider what this one tree has endured:
Poor soil. Rocks. A steep hillside. Years of minimal care. Drought. Deer browsing. Dead lower limbs.
And then look at it.
[PHOTO: Best fruit-laden branch or beautiful close-up]
It’s green, vigorous and loaded with beautiful fruit.
Our first Che harvest on August 26, 2026 brought in 3.8 pounds, and that was just the first picking.
There are certainly fruit trees with more familiar names and far more commercial attention. But for gardeners interested in edible landscaping, unusual fruits and plants capable of producing food without constant intervention, Che deserves considerably more attention than it gets.
Sometimes the best plants aren’t the ones demanding that we constantly feed, spray, prune and fuss over them.
Sometimes they simply grow.
And give.
Che gives so much without asking for anything.
Che Fruit FAQ
How do you pronounce Che?
Che is generally pronounced “chay.”
What is the botanical name for Che?
The currently accepted botanical name is Maclura tricuspidata. The older name Cudrania tricuspidata is a botanical synonym and is still widely encountered.
Where is Che native?
According to Kew Plants of the World Online, its native range extends from China through Vietnam and South Korea.
Is Che related to mulberries?
Yes. Che belongs to the Moraceae, or mulberry family, along with mulberries, figs and Osage orange.
Is Che actually a berry?
No. Although it’s often called Mandarin melon berry, Che is a multiple or collective fruit formed from numerous small flowers.
What does Che fruit taste like?
Its sweet flavor is commonly compared with fig and watermelon.
Can you eat Che fruit fresh?
Absolutely. Fully ripe Che can be eaten directly from the tree.
How do you pick Che without damaging it?
Don’t pull or twist it. Bend the ripe fruit sideways or fold it over its attached stem. It should pop free surprisingly easily.
Do you need two Che trees to get fruit?
It depends on the selection. The species naturally has separate male and female plants, but some selected female Che produce seedless fruit without a male pollinator.
Is Che drought tolerant?
Established Che is considered drought tolerant, although severe drought during fruit development may contribute to fruit drop. Our own mature tree has continued producing through significant periods of drought.
Do deer eat Che trees?
They certainly eat ours! Deer browse the foliage and branches and once ate one of our newly planted Che trees to the ground. We strongly recommend protecting young Che trees where deer pressure is heavy.
Do birds eat Che fruit?
They may, but birds haven’t caused significant fruit losses on our tree. Che has also been reported to receive relatively little bird pressure compared with many familiar fruits.
How long does ripe Che keep?
Fully ripe Che softens quickly, so it’s best eaten or preserved relatively soon after harvesting.
A Note From Our Orchard
We love to share our growing experiences that may also help others.
If you’re growing Che, we’d love to hear about your experience too — particularly your harvest dates, yields, deer and bird pressure, and favorite ways to use the fruit.
References & Further Reading
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Plants of the World Online:
Maclura tricuspidata Carrière
Virginia Cooperative Extension / Virginia Tech:
Edible Landscape Species — Shrubs, Vines and Groundcovers
Kim, D-W., et al. (2019), Molecules:
Comparison of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activities of Maclura tricuspidata Fruit Extracts at Different Maturity Stages
RESOURCES:
CRFG.org
EdibleLandscaping.com
Let us know if you’re growing che. We’d love to hear how it’s going for you!
I’m LeAura Alderson, a garden, herb and plant enthusiast with a passion for discovering the many edible and medicinal benefits of the plants all around us, including the weeds, while transforming the land through regenerative permaculture practice. I am also a writer, editor and media publisher (now mostly retired due to replacement by AI), but which now allows more time to build our regenerative permaculture homestead farm.