(No information available for companion plants on this tree.) The plants have been valued by the Chinese for their leaves, as feed for silkworms. Although the silk produced from them was said to produce lute strings with a particularly clear sound, their leaves were used only to supplement mulberry leaves as feed, perhaps because thorny stems make picking them more difficult. Young plants have small thorns so terminal branches may be armed with sharp thorns that will give way in a mature tree. No fruit is produced by the Male but without his flowers the Female won’t fruit. The Male will cause seeds to be produced in the fruit of any Female Melonberry variety within pollination range. If you have a Female Melonberry that isn’t producing well or drops all its fruit, and you don’t mind seeds in the fruit, then plant a Male Melonberry within 15-20 ft of the Female. On the other hand, because space is usually limited, savvy gardeners have planted the male and female che in the same hole. The male is kept pruned to about ¼ of the total canopy for adequate pollination and best fruit production. Plant away from walks, drives or patio, as fallen fruit stains porous surfaces. Unlike most Che, Seedless Che does not need a male to set fruit. Do not plant a male tree with a Seedless Che or the fruits will be seedy.