Onosma frutescens

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Onosma frutescens
Light:Full Sun
Moisture:Xeric Mesic
Hardiness:8
Soil pH:5.6-8.4
Height:1'
Blooms:Early Summer-Late Summer
Native to:
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Onosma frutescens

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].

A very ornamental plant[1].

Range: S.W. Asia.

Habitat: Limestone slopes and rocks to 1600 metres[2].

Usage: A red dye is obtained from the root. It is an alkanna substitute[5][6].

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[7].

Links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
  3. Chatto, Beth. The Damp Garden. Dent, 1982.
  4. Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  5. Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
  6. Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
  7. Grey-Wilson, Christopher and Victoria Matthews. Gardening on Walls. Collins, 1983.