Dichopogon strictus
| Dichopogon strictus | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 3' |
| Blooms: | Late Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Dichopogon strictus (common name: chocolate lily)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. 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.
Division.
Cultivation: We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. It tolerates temperatures down to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[1] but this cannot be translated directly to this country due to our cooler summers and longer, wetter and colder winters. It is likely to need protection when grown outdoors in Britain.
Requires a sandy loam and leafmold[2]. Succeeds in most soils in a sunny position in Australian gardens[1].
The flowers have a delicious scent of chocolate[1][3].
Range: Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria.
Habitat: Open forests and heathlands in sandy soils[4]. Also found in grassland[3].
Edibility: Root - raw or cooked[5][3]. It is usually sweet but can be bitter[3]. Several tubers up to 3.5cm long are produced by each plant, usually up to 15cm below the surface of the soil[3].
Flowers - raw. Chocolate scented[5].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wrigley, John and Murray Fagg. Australian Native Plants. Collins, 1988.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Low, Tim. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson, 1989.
- ↑ Ewart, Alfred. Recording Census of the Victorian Flora. 1923.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cribb, Alan and Joan Cribb. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana, 1976.