Drimys winteri
| Drimys winteri | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-7.3 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 25' |
| Width: | 20' |
| Speed: | Moderate |
| Blooms: | Mid Winter-Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Drimys winteri (common name: winter's bark)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a greenhouse[1]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow on the plants for at least their first winter in a cold frame. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Layering in March/April. Takes 12 months[2].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10 - 15 cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Approximately 60% take[2].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth with a heel of older wood, November in a cold frame[2].
Cultivation: Requires a light lime-free soil in semi-shade[3]. Tolerates chalk in the soil[4]. Requires a deep moist soil[4]. Dislikes dry conditions[5]. Prefers a warm sandy loam with some shelter[6]. Fairly wind resistant[7][8]. Another report says that the plant resents severe wind-chill[3].
Succeeds against a wall at Kew[K] and it thrives in an open position in S.W. England[4][7][9]. Tolerates temperatures down to about -10°c[10]. This species is less hardy than D. lanceolata but it usually recovers from damage[11]. Another report says that it is hardier than D. lanceolata[1].
A very ornamental plant[4]. The sub-species D. winteri andina. Reiche. is a slow growing dwarf form seldom exceeding 1 metre in height[12]. It usually commences flowering when about 30cm tall[13].
A polymorphic species[5].
The flowers have a delicate fragrance of jasmine, whilst the bark has a powerful aromatic smell[14].
This plant was a symbol of peace to the indigenous Indian tribes of S. America in much the same way as an olive branch was used in Greece[5].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[1].
Range: Southern S. America - Chile, Argentina.
Habitat: The dominant tree in moister lowland sites to Tierra Del Fuego[15]. Boggy sites by streams etc in rich soils[5].
Edibility: The aromatic pungent bark is powdered and used as a pepper substitute in Brazil, Chile and Argentina[16][17][15][18]. It is rich in vitamin C[19].
Medicinal: The bark is a pungent bitter tonic herb that relieves indigestion[13]. It is antiscorbutic, aromatic, febrifuge, skin, stimulant and stomachic. An infusion of the bark is used in the treatment of indigestion, colic, dandruff and scurvy[20][17][15][5][13]. It is also used as a parasiticide[20][17][15][5]. The bark is harvested in the autumn and winter and is dried for later use[13].
Usage: The powerfully aromatic bark contains resinous matter and 0.64% of aromatic essential oil[14].
Wood - not durable, heavy (it sinks in water) - interior of houses, boxes etc. It burns badly with a smell[17][21][15][5].
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The sap of this plant can cause serious inflammation if it comes into contact with the eyes[5].
Also Known As: D. aromatica. Murray. non (R.Br.)Muell. Wintera aromatica. Murray. non (R.Br.)Muell.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Davis, Brian. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking, 1990.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Reiche, Karl. Flora de Chile.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Arnold-Forster, William. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.
- ↑ Taylor, Jane. The Milder Garden. Dent, 1990.
- ↑ Thurston, Edgar. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall. Cambridge University Press, 1930.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ Royal Horticultural Society. The Plantsman Vol. 2. 1980 - 1981. Royal Horticultural Society, 1980.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Moore, David. Flora of Tierra del Fuego. Anthony Nelson, 1983.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Douglas, James. Alternative Foods.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.