Practical
Plants

Astelia nervosa

a perennial evergreen member of the Astelia genus in the family Asteliaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Astelia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.5 m
Spread
1.5 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious

Uses

Edible uses

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

Fruit - raw. Sweet, fleshy and juicy, it is pleasant to eat[7][8][1][3].

Plant part
Fruit

Material uses

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

A soft brown fibre is obtained from the leaves. It has a variety of uses[3].

Product or use
Fibre

Environment

Range
New Zealand.
Habitat
Forest and grassland in the montane to sub-alpine zone between latitudes 37 and 47° south[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse. Germination can be very slow, sometimes taking more than 12 months. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade for at least the first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out in late spring or early summer once they are 15cm or more tall. Division in spring[5].

Cultivation

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

Requires a damp humus-rich fertile soil in sun or semi-shade, sheltered from cold drying winds[2][5]. Also succeeds in clay soils[4]. It only succeeds in a sunny position if the soil does not dry out[2][5]. Plants are hardy to about -10°c, but are best when grown in moist maritime gardens[4]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Plants seldom fruit in cultivation[4].

References

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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