Practical
Plants

Lithospermum multiflorum

Manyflowered Gromwell

a perennial member of the Lithospermum genus in the family Boraginaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.5 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

The seeds have been used for food[4].

Plant part
Seed

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 root has been used as a 'life medicine' by some native North American Indian tribes[4].

Product or use
Miscellany

Material uses

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

A purple dye is obtained from the root[2].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Western N. America.
Habitat
Gravelly soils in Texas, 1800 - 3600 metres, mainly in the juniper and pine belts[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline, very 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 spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings. Division.

Cultivation

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

Requires a warm sunny position in a moderately fertile well-drained calcareous soil[1][3]. Grows well in dry soils[3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Arnberger. L. P. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments Ass. 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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