Practical
Plants

Muehlenbeckia adpressa

an evergreen member of the Muehlenbeckia genus in the family Polygonaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
evergreen
Height
2.5 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious

Uses

Edible uses

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

Fruit - raw or cooked in pies etc[8][10][2][5]. A sour taste, but they are pleasant in small quantities[4].

Plant part
Fruit

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia.
Habitat
Sandhills by the coast and inland[5]. Moist coastal forests[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
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 - sow spring in a greenhouse. 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, 5 - 8 cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up in autumn and overwinter in a cold frame. High percentage[11]. Plant out in late spring. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 5 - 10cm with a heel, October/November in a cold frame. High percentage[11].

Cultivation

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

Requires a well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade[6]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, it requires greenhouse protection in the winter according to some reports[1][6], whilst another says that it is possibly hardy in the mildest areas of Britain[3] and another says that it grows luxuriantly in Cornwall[9]. A climbing plant that supports itself by twining around other plants etc[7]. Closely related to M. australis[3]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

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

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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

    ↩1↩2

  4. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

    ↩1↩2

  5. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  8. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  9. Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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