Practical
Plants

Paronychia capitata

Algerian Tea

a perennial evergreen member of the Paronychia genus in the family Caryophyllaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.03 m
Spread
0.3 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

An infusion of the flowers is used as a tea[1].

Product or use
Tea

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.

An infusion of the leaves is aphrodisiac and diuretic[3]. It is also used in the treatment of TB[3].

Product or use
Aphrodisiac
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
TB

Material uses

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

Especially useful as a ground cover plant with bulbs, covering the soil after the bulbs have flowered[3][4]. The plants form a low carpet, rooting as they spread, and they should be spaced about 30cm apart each way[4].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean.
Habitat
Dry rocky habitats[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in 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. Division in spring[3].

Cultivation

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

Requires a sunny position succeeding in hot dry soils and tolerating drought once established[2]. Requires a warm open position in full sun, in a sharply drained sandy or gritty soil. If the soil is too rich the plants leaves will not be so silvery[3]. Plants can be grown in a wall[3]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c, perhaps more if in a perfectly drained soil[3]. This report is a little confusing since the same article says that the plant succeeds in climatic zone 5 and should therefore be hardy in almost all of Britain[K]. This species is closely related to P. argentea but is less tolerant of winter cold and wet conditions[3].

References

  1. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  2. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

    ↩

  3. 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↩7↩8↩9

  4. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

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