Lyonia ovalifolia

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Lyonia ovalifolia
Light:Full Sun Part Shade
Moisture:Mesic
Hardiness:6
Soil pH:5.6-6.5
Height:7'
Width:7'
Blooms:Late Spring-Early Summer
Open Woods Forest
Native to:
Medicinal Rating:
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Lyonia ovalifolia

Propagation: Seed - sow early spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed[1]. 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, July/August in a frame[1].

Layering.

Cultivation: Grow in dappled shade in moist humus-rich lime-free soils and mulch annually with leafmould[1]. Requires an acid soil in sun or part shade[2]. Requires a position in shade or semi-shade[3].

Plants are hardy to about -10°c[2], though the Himalayan form of this species is rather tender[4].

Range: E. Asia - China, Japan, Himalayas.

Habitat: Common in sunny places on hills, in scrub and on the edges of oak, pine and rhododendron woods[2].

Medicinal: The young leaves and buds are toxic, but they are used externally as an infusion to treat skin diseases and external parasites[5][6].

Usage: The leaves have insecticidal properties and can also be used to treat skin diseases of a parasitic origin[7][8].

Wood - soft according to one report[7], hard according to another[8], even-grained, moderately compact, not durable, warps and shrinks badly during seasoning. It is used as a fuel, though is not a very good fuel[8][6], and as a charcoal[8]. It can also be used in turning if it is properly seasoned[7].

Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.

Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.

Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Early Fall

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Also Known As: Andromeda ovalifolia. Pieris ovalifolia. Xolisma ovalifolia.

Links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
  3. Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
  4. Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
  5. Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Gamble, James. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1972.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Gupta, Basant. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press, 1945.