Practical
Plants

Fremontodendron californicum

Flannel Flower

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Fremontodendron genus in the family Sterculiaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
6 m
Spread
4 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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

The stem is clothed with brown hairs which rub off easily and can be a severe irritant[4]. When pruning it is best to wear a mask[4]. The eyes can be badly affected[7].

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 inner bark is used as a poultice[16][17]. One report says that the bark has similar properties to Ulmus rubra (Slippery Elm Bark)[16]. These properties are as follows:- Slippery elm bark is a widely used herbal remedy and is considered to be one of the most valuable of remedies in herbal practice[16]. In particular, it is a gentle and effective remedy for irritated states of the mucous membranes of the chest, urinary tubules, stomach and intestines[14]. The inner bark contains large quantities of a sticky slime that can be dried to a powder or made into a liquid[12]. The inner bark is harvested in the spring from the main trunk and from larger branches, it is then dried and powdered for use as required[16]. Ten year old bark is said to be best[16]. Fine grades of the powder are best for internal use, coarse grades are better suited to poultices[13]. The plant is also part of a North American formula called essiac which is a popular treatment for cancer. Its effectiveness has never been reliably proven or disproven since controlled studies have not been carried out. The other herbs included in the formula are Arctium lappa, Rumex acetosella and Rheum palmatum[14]. The inner bark is demulcent, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, nutritive[16][8][3][9]. It has a soothing and healing effect on all parts of the body that it comes into contact with[16] and is used in the treatment of sore throats, indigestion, digestive irritation, stomach ulcers etc[11]. It used to be frequently used as a food that was a nutritive tonic for the old, young and convalescents[11]. It was also applied externally to fresh wounds, burns and scalds[11]. The bark has been used as an antioxidant to prevent fats going rancid[11]. The whole bark, including the outer bark, has been used as a mechanical irritant to abort foetuses[13]. Its use became so widespread that it is now banned in several countries[13].

Product or use
Poultice

Material uses

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

The bark can be made into cordage then used in making nets etc[15]. Wood - fine-grained, hard to soft, heavy[20][12]. It is not used commercially due to the small size of the tree[12].

Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California and Arizona.
Habitat
Dry, mostly granitic slopes, 900 - 1800 metres in California[18]. It thrives on poor dry rocky soils of the foothills, where it often forms dense thickets[12].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - pre-soak for 48 hours in warm water and then sow singly in pots in a cold frame in late winter. Variable germination[19]. Grow the young plants 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 sandy soil in a frame[6]. Cuttings of greenwood in spring in a frame[6].

Cultivation

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

Requires a light well-drained poorish soil[2] in full sun in a position sheltered from cold drying winds[6]. Tolerates light shade[7]. Prefers a hot dry situation according to one report[4] whilst another says that it does best against a north, west or east wall, a southern exposure usually being too hot and dry[5]. Tolerates very chalky soils[6][7]. Plants produce lush growth when growing in rich soils at the expense of flowering[6]. This species is not hardy in the open at Kew, though it succeeds in the open in milder areas of the country[2][5]. Plants tolerate temperatures down to about -15°c, especially once they are more than 1.5 metres tall[7]. Plants are relatively fast growing[7]. Resents root disturbance and should be planted into its final position when quite young[1][2]. Plants do not seem to be long lived in cultivation[5], about 20 years being considered old age[10]. They are subject to sudden collapse and death, even if they have been growing and flowering well[2]. This is probably the result of excessive wet or of the plant failing to fully ripen its wood. The stems die back if the bark is cracked by frost or abrasion[1]. Plants can be pruned in mid to late summer, this will generate new growth and more flowers[7]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[6].

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↩4

  3. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  8. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  9. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩

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

    ↩

  11. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  15. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  16. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

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

    ↩

  18. Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00

    ↩

  19. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  20. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩

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