Practical
Plants

Cyathodes colensoi

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
0.3 m
Spread
0.3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. A sweet mealy flesh[2]. Rarely seen on plants growing in Britain[1]. The fruit is about 5mm in diameter[8]. One report says that the fruit contains up to 24% by dry weight of oil[2], does this refer to the seed?[K].

Plant part
Fruit

Material uses

A most attractive ground cover plant for the winter garden[6].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
New Zealand.
Habitat
Montane to lower sub-alpine open grassland to rocky places and fellfield on North and South Islands[10].
Shade tolerance
partial 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

Seed - surface sow in ericaceous soil, February/March in a cold frame[4]. Do not exclude light[4]. Germination can take place within 1 - 2 months at 18°c but often takes 3 - 5 years[8]. Scarification will reduce the germination time and 2 or 3 periods of 4 - 6 weeks cold stratification alternated with 4 weeks warm stratification can also help[5]. Perhaps sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe would also be beneficial[K].The seedlings can be very slow to form roots and need to be potted up with great care[8]. Grow them on in a greenhouse for at least two years before planting them out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[7]. Neither easy nor reliable[8]. Air layering[8].

Cultivation

Requires a moist well-drained lime-free humus rich soil in a sheltered site in partial or dappled shade[1][4][8]. Plants are very susceptible to drought[8]. A good rock garden plant. Slow growing[1]. This species is fairly hardy in Britain but it can be damaged in very severe winters[1]. Another report says that it is only hardy to about -5°c[8], but plants have been seen growing on a very shady north-facing slope in a rock garden at Kew, which experiences lower temperatures than this[K]. These plants were undamaged after the very cold winter of 1996 - 97 and were flowering freely in April 1997[K]. Plants grow best in areas with moderate winters and cool moist summers[8]. The sweetly scented flowers are produced in axillary clusters[9]. Plants have very fine root systems and great care must be taken when transplanting them[3].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. 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

  3. Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 1988-00-00 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0

    ↩

  4. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Bird. R. (Editor) Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') Thompson and Morgan. 1991-00-00

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  6. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

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  7. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  9. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

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

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