Nertera balfouriana
a perennial member of the Nertera genus in the family Rubiaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw[1]. The fruit is a berry about 1cm in diameter with a single seed[2].
- Plant part
- Fruit
Environment
- Range
- New Zealand.
- Habitat
- Damp and boggy ground from lowland to the sub-alpine zone, especially amongst sphagnum moss[3].
- Shade tolerance
- partial shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 9+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- 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 shaded part of a cool greenhouse or cold frame[2]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position 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. Consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Division in spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a light well-drained soil in semi-shade and shelter from cold winds[2]. Plants are intolerant of excessive winter wet[2]. A prostrate mat-forming plant that forms roots at the nodes of stems, it grows well in a rock garden in areas where frosts are light and short-lived[2]. It succeeds outdoors only in the milder areas of Britain.
References
Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00