Practical
Plants

Lophomyrtus x ralphii

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Lophomyrtus genus in the family Myrtaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Myrtaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

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

Fruit - raw or cooked[K]. They are sweet and pleasant with a slightly aromatic flavour when they are fully ripe[K]. The fruit is berry about 7mm in diameter containing a number of small but very hard seeds[K]. We have seen plants of the cultivar 'Sundae' still bearing fruit in the early spring.

Plant part
Fruit

Environment

Range
New Zealand.
Habitat
Coastal to montane forest, especially marginally, in North Island and occasionally in the north of South Island[7][3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a warm greenhouse in late winter or early spring. 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. Give the plants some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in sand in a frame[5]. Cuttings of mature wood, late autumn in a frame[5]. Basal cuttings are used[5]. Layering.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in any soil of reasonably good quality[1]. Prefers a sheltered position in full sun in a moderately fertile well-drained soil enriched with leafmould[5][6]. A naturally occurring hybrid of Lophomyrtus bullata x Lophomyrtus obcordata[5]. Plants are scarcely hardy at Kew but they succeed outdoors in the milder parts of the country[2], tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c[6]. Growth can be restricted by cutting the plant back in spring[4].

References

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

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

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  3. Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302

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  4. 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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  5. 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. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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