Abronia latifolia
| Abronia latifolia | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 0.3' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
Abronia latifolia (common name: sand verbena)
Propagation: Seed - sow autumn or early spring very shallowly in pots of sandy soil in a greenhouse[1]. Germination can be very slow unless you peel off the outer skin and pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water[2][3]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 2 months at 15°c[1]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Seedlings are prone to damp off and so should be kept well-ventilated[2]. Plant out in late spring, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings in spring, rooted in sand[2].
Cultivation: Prefers a light well-drained sandy soil in full sun[2].
This species is not very hardy in Britain, though it should succeed outdoors in the southern part of the country, especially if given a warm sheltered site[2].
Seed is rarely ripened on plants growing in Britain[4].
Range: South-western N. America - California to Vancouver Island..
Habitat: Coastal sand dunes and sea beaches[5]
Edibility: Root - large and sweet[6][7][8]. An emergency food, used when all else fails[9]. Long and stout[10], it can be more than 60cm in length[11]. The root was usually harvested in the autumn[12].
Soil: Can grow in light soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: A. arenaria.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan, 1987.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Hitchcock, Leo. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, 1955.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Gunther, Erna. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press, 1981.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.