Practical
Plants

Desfontainia spinosa

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Desfontainia genus in the family Loganiaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

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

Uses

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.

The leaves are narcotic and have been used medicinally in Chile[2]. More research needs to be carried out into the medicinal virtues of this plant[2]. The sub-species D. spinosa hookeri is usually employed[2].

Product or use
Miscellany
Product or use
Narcotic

Environment

Range
S. America - Growing in the Andes from Colombia to southern Chile.
Habitat
Cool mountain cloud forests in the north of its range, descending to sea level in the south[1].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - surface sow in spring in a greenhouse. Do not allow the compost to become dry. Grow on the seedlings in a bright filtered light[3]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots 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. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Requires humid conditions and bottom heat at 16°c[3]. Overwinter in a cold frame and grow on for another year before planting out[3]. Division of suckers in the dormant season[4].

Cultivation

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

Requires a humus-rich moisture-retentive acid soil in a sheltered position in partial shade[3]. Grows well in sandy soils as long as there is plenty of humus present[6]. Intolerant of alkaline soils and of water-logging[4]. Dislikes drought[3]. Plants like growing with their roots in the shade but their stems reaching up into the light[6]. This species is not fully hardy in Britain, plants tolerate temperatures down to about -10°c when sheltered from cold drying winds[3]. They grow best along the west coast of the country, especially in Scotland and N. Ireland[1]. The sub-species D. spinosa hookeri.(Dun.)Reiche. is usually employed for its medicinal virtues[5]. There is at least one named variety selected for its ornamental value[3]. The flowers are softly honey-scented[6]. A slow-growing plant[4]. Any pruning to retain shape is best done in the spring[3].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. 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

  4. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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