Coriaria terminalis
| Coriaria terminalis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 4' |
| Width: | 7' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Nitrogen Fixer | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Coriaria terminalis
Propagation: Seed - sow February/March in a greenhouse[1]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[2]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Fair percentage[1].
Division in the spring.
Cultivation: Succeeds in any good soil[3], though it prefers a fairly good loamy soil in full sun or light shade[4][2][5]. Requires a sunny sheltered position[2][3].
This species is one of the hardiest members of the genus, tolerating temperatures down to at least -5°c if sheltered from cold winds[5]. Plants are hardy from Sussex westwards[6]. It is hardy at Kew where it fruits annually and resprouts from the base if cut back in severe winters[4][5]. Plants flower and fruit at the tips of the current years growth and so can produce fruit even if they have been cut to the ground[7][K]. They can fruit well even when young, plants growing with us flowered and fruited in their third year from seed[K].
When well sited, suckers can be produced at some distance from the parent plant[3][K].
The roots of plants in this genus bear nitrogen-fixing nodules[8]. Whilst much of the nitrogen will be utilized by the growing plant, some of it will become available for other plants growing nearby[K].
Range: E. Asia - Sikkim, Tibet, China.
Habitat: Thickets and woodland margins, 2000 - 2600 metres in W. China[9].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or used as a beverage[6][4][10]. The seed must not be eaten. Use with great caution since most parts of the plant, including the seed, are probably toxic and some reports suggest the fruit should not be used at all. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[5].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The seed may be poisonous[6]. Although we have no more information, it is reasonable to assume that other parts of the plant are also toxic.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ Wilson, Ernest and Charles Sargent. Plantae Wilsonianae.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.