Muehlenbeckia australis
an evergreen member of the Muehlenbeckia genus in the family Polygonaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Polygonaceae
- Genus
- Muehlenbeckia
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Height
- 10 m
- Flower type
- dioecious
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw or cooked. Sweet and juicy[1].
- Plant part
- Fruit
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Climber
Environment
- Range
- New Zealand.
- Habitat
- Scrub and forests, especially marginal, up to montane altitudes on Three Kings, North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands[5][1].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light 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 - 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[6]. 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[6].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade[3]. Not very hardy in Britain[2]. Plants tolerate temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[3]. A climbing plant that supports itself by twining around other plants etc[4]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
References
Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00