Practical
Plants

Heimia salicifolia

Erva De Vida

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Heimia genus in the family Lythraceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Heimia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

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

An intoxicating and euphoric drink is made by crushing the wilted leaves in water and leaving the liquid in a sunny position for three days to ferment[2]. In larger quantities this can induce hallucinations and produces a vision that is typically overcast in yellow[2].

Product or use
Drink

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 antispasmodic, hallucinogenic and sedative[2]. An infusion serves to stabilize the blood pressure and relieve anxiety[2].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Hallucinogenic
Product or use
Sedative

Environment

Range
Southern N. America from Texas to Mexico and south to Central America.
Habitat
Along the sides of streams[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, 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 - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in spring in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle. Grow the young plants on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring or early summer. Mulch the roots well in the autumn to protect them from the cold. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[3].

Cultivation

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

Easily grown in any well-drained soil in full sun[3]. Especially in the colder areas of the country this plant is best grown against a sunny south or south-west facing wall and given a good mulch of bracken in the winter[3]. The rootstock is fairly hardy in most of Britain, whilst the top growth tolerates temperatures down to about -10 to -15°c[3]. If cut back by severe weather the plant usually grows again from the base[3]. Flowers are produced on the current seasons growth[3]. Plants growing by the side of a greenhouse at Cambridge Botanical Gardens flower freely[1]. This species is closely related to H. myrtifolia, differing mainly in having larger flowers[1]. Any pruning is best carried out in early spring by removing excess growth at the base of the plant[3].

References

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

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  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

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