Onosma echioides
| Onosma echioides | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Onosma echioides
Propagation: Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in early spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in early summer.
Cuttings in a frame in the summer. Shade them for the first 10 - 12 days[1].
Cultivation: Requires a well-drained soil in full sun[1][2]. Prefers a deep rather rich sandy loam[1]. Best grown in a crevice in a rock garden or on a wall[1][2]. Tolerates hot dry conditions and also drought once it is established, but disliking winter wet[3]. Plants also dislike wet summers[4].
Hardy to about -15°c[2].
There is some confusion over this species. It is given as a part of O. frutescens in some reports but [4] gives it specific status.
A very ornamental plant[1].
Range: S. Europe to N. Africa.
Habitat: Limestone slopes and rocks to 1600 metres[2]. Crevices in rocks and cliffs[5].
Medicinal: The leaves are alterative[6]. They are made into a powder and given to children as a purgative[6].
The flowers are used as a cordial and stimulant in the treatment of rheumatism and palpitations of the heart[6].
The root is bruised and used as an external application to skin eruptions[6].
Usage: A red dye is obtained from the root. It is an alkanna substitute[7][8].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The bristly stems and leaves can cause a good deal of irritation to the skin[9].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ Chatto, Beth. The Damp Garden. Dent, 1982.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press, 1987.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Grey-Wilson, Christopher and Victoria Matthews. Gardening on Walls. Collins, 1983.