Ugni molinae
| Ugni molinae | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 7' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Speed: | Moderate |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Mid Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Ugni molinae (common name: uñi)
Propagation: Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow it in late winter in a greenhouse. 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 into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[K].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up in the autumn and overwinter in a cold frame. Plant out in late spring. High percentage[1].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, 7 - 12cm with a heel, November in a shaded and frost free frame. Plant out in late spring or early autumn. High percentage[1].
Layering.
Cultivation: Succeeds in any reasonably good soil including[2] dry ones. Prefers a moderately fertile well-drained loam in a sunny position[3][4]. Fairly tolerant of maritime exposure[K]. Established plants are drought resistant[5].
A very ornamental plant[2], it is only hardy in the milder parts of Britain[6], tolerating temperatures down to about -10°c when fully dormant[7]. The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. Plants grow and fruit very well in Cornwall, indeed, in the past it has been cultivated commercially for its fruit there[3][8] (it was one of Queen Victoria's favourite fruits), but is now normally only grown as an ornamental plant. This is a much underused plant that highly merits cultivation on a commercial scale for its fruit[K].
Flowers and fruits well even when the plants are young[3][9].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[4].
Range: S. America - Chile.
Habitat: Woodland edges and scrub[3][7].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[10][6]. An absolutely delicious flavour, it is very aromatic and tastes of wild strawberries[3][11][K]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[5] and is freely borne even on small plants[K].
Leaves are a tea substitute[12][13].
The roasted seeds are a coffee substitute[13].
Usage: Tolerant of trimming, it can be grown as a small hedge in the milder parts of Britain[3].
Pollinators: Bees
Notes: We could supply this in the next catalogue.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Eugenia ugni. Ugni molinae.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Popenoe, Hugh. Lost Crops of the Incas. National Academy Press, 1990.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Simmons, Alan. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles, 1972.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ Thurston, Edgar. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall. Cambridge University Press, 1930.
- ↑ Taylor, Jane. The Milder Garden. Dent, 1990.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Bryan, John and Coralie Castle. Edible Ornamental Garden. Pitman Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.