Practical
Plants

Aristotelia serrata

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Aristotelia genus in the family Elaeocarpaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
7.5 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Bees, Insects
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Bees, Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[7][11][12][6]. A delicious taste[4]. The fruit is about 7mm in diameter[8].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Antirheumatic, ophthalmic, poultice[12].

Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Poultice

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Yields a blue/black dye[4]. No further details are given. The wood is used in cabinet making, turnery, inlay etc[11][12] as well as for making charcoal[11][3].

Product or use
Charcoal
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
New Zealand.
Habitat
Forest and scrub from lowland to montane areas in North, South and Stewart Islands[10][6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Once the plants are at least 20cm tall, plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[2]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth in early winter[1]. Take cuttings 15 - 30cm long and plant them in pots or the open soil in a greenhouse. They normally root very easily and can be potted up in early summer then planted out late the following spring[K].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a slightly acid, moderately fertile well-drained soil in full sun with shelter from cold drying winds[8]. Plants grow best in light shade[9]. Plants are only hardy in the milder and moister areas of Britain[1][2], growing well in light woodland[5]. If cut back in severe winters they will often resprout from the sturdier branches[9]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K]. In its native New Zealand, this is one of the first plants to colonize areas of cleared woodland or waste ground[9]. Plants do not really require pruning[9]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Laing. and Blackwell. Plants of New Zealand. Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd 1907-00-00

    ↩

  4. Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-19-558229-2

    ↩1↩2

  5. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩

  6. Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302

    ↩1↩2

  7. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  9. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00

    ↩

  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2↩3

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