Dodonaea viscosa
| Dodonaea viscosa | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Cross Pollinated | |
| Height: | 10' |
| Width: | 5' |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Dodonaea viscosa (common name: native hops)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[K]. The seed is slow to germinate according to one report[1], but it germinated in 3 weeks in a cold greenhouse with us[K]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a fairly sunny part of the greenhouse for at least their first winter. If trying them outdoors, then plant them out in early summer of their second or third year's growth after the last expected frosts and give them some protection from the cold for their next winter or two[K].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[2].
Cultivation: Requires a light well-drained soil in a sunny position[1]. Succeeds in almost any fertile soil and in a hot dry position. Resists drought, salt winds and (atmospheric?) pollution[1].
Plants are very wind hardy but are not resistant to frost[3]. They tolerate temperatures down to about -7°c in Australian gardens[4], but are damaged at about 3°c in British gardens[1]. One report says that they succeed outdoors in the mildest gardens in Britain[5]. Plants are growing very well in pots in a polyhouse on our trial grounds in south Cornwall, but they have not survived in the open ground[K]. Our seed source was from Australia, other provenances might be more hardy[K].
Plants are difficult to transplant when they are more than 60 centimetres tall[1].
Polymorphic, there are a number of sub-species[6][4].
Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
Range: Australia, New Zealand and N. America.
Habitat: Rocky, stony or sandy soils in the montane zone of Victoria[6].
Edibility: Seed[7][8]. No further details are given.
The bitter fruits are a substitute for hops and yeast in making beer[7][9][8].
The chewed leaves are said to be stimulating[7][8] but they contain saponins[9] and are also said to be slightly cyanogenic[10] so their use is not very advisable.
Medicinal: The leaves are anodyne, astringent, diaphoretic, febrifuge (the var. angustissima is normally used[10]), odontalgic and vulnerary[10][11]. They are applied internally in the treatment of fevers[11]. Externally, they are used to treat toothache, sore throats, wounds, skin rashes and stings[11][12].
The leaves are apparently effective in the treatment of toothache if they are chewed without swallowing the juice[11].
The bark is employed in astringent baths and poultices[13].
Usage: The leaves contain up to 18% tannin[11].
Plants are very tolerant of pruning and make a good hedging plant for windy sites[2][13].
Wood - heavy, tough, resistant. Used for wedges, hammers, turnery, inlay, cabinets etc[6].
Soil: Can grow in light soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Pollution: Tolerates environmental pollution.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Dioecious
Known Hazards: The leaves are slightly cyanogenic[10]. They are also said to contain saponins[9]. Although quite toxic, saponins are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problems. Saponins can be found in a number of common foods suc
Also Known As: D. attenuata. A.Cunn.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ Taylor, Jane. The Milder Garden. Dent, 1990.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wrigley, John and Murray Fagg. Australian Native Plants. Collins, 1988.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Ewart, Alfred. Recording Census of the Victorian Flora. 1923.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Pesman, M. Meet Flora Mexicana. Dale S King, 1962.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Lassak, Erich and Tara McCarthy. Australian Medicinal Plants.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.