Practical
Plants

Rhus integrifolia

Lemonade Berry

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Rhus genus in the family Anacardiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Rhus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
2 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Bees
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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

There are some suggestions that the sap of this species can cause a skin rash in susceptible people, but this has not been substantiated. See also notes in 'Cultivation Details'.

Edible uses

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

Fruit - raw or cooked[6][12][15][3]. The fruit is covered with a pleasant acid-tasting exudation that can be sucked[16][17]. The fruit is small, up to 10mm in diameter[8], with very little flesh, but it is produced in fairly large panicles and so is easily harvested. When soaked for 10 - 30 minutes in hot or cold water it makes a very refreshing lemonade-like drink (without any fizz of course)[16][18][19]. The mixture should not be boiled since this will release tannic acids and make the drink astringent[5]. The leaves have been chewed to assuage thirst[9]. The roasted fruit is a coffee substitute.

Product or use
Coffee
Product or use
Drink
Plant part
Fruit

Material uses

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

The leaves are rich in tannin. They can be collected as they fall in the autumn and used as a brown dye or as a mordant[4]. An oil is extracted from the seeds[11]. It attains a tallow-like consistency on standing and is used to make candles. These burn brilliantly, though they emit a pungent smoke[11]. Wood - hard, heavy[15]. It is valued and largely used as a fuel[15].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Mordant
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Tannin
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California.
Habitat
Ocean bluffs, canyons and dry places below 800 metres[13], in sandy sterile soil[15]. Often forming close, impenetrable thickets[15].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in hot water (starting at a temperature of 80 - 90c and allowing it to cool) prior to sowing in order to leach out any germination inhibitors[7]. This soak water can be drunk and has a delicious lemon-flavour. The stored seed also needs hot water treatment and can be sown in early spring in a cold frame[7]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. It might be wise to grow the plants on in pots for a few years before planting out - see notes in 'Cultivation Details'[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[7]. Root cuttings 4cm long taken in December and potted up vertically in a greenhouse. Good percentage[14][7]. Suckers in late autumn to winter[7].

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in a well-drained fertile soil in full sun[2][7]. Succeeds in a hot dry position. This species is not very hardy in Britain, it may not succeed outdoors even in the mildest areas of the country[7]. One report says they can tolerate temperatures down to about -5°c[10]. Older plants become somewhat hardier and so it is worthwhile growing them on for a few years in pots with some winter protection (such as a cold greenhouse)[K]. Some 4 year old plants were cut back to the base by temperatures below -5°c on our Cornish trial grounds, but they resprouted from the base in early summer[K]. The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. Plants usually form thickets in the wild[8]. Plants have brittle branches and these can be broken off in strong winds[7]. Plants are also susceptible to coral spot fungus[2]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[7]. Many of the species in this genus are highly toxic and can also cause severe irritation to the skin of some people, whilst other species such as this one are not poisonous. It is relatively simple to distinguish which is which, the poisonous species have axillary panicles and smooth fruits whilst non-poisonous species have compound terminal panicles and fruits covered with acid crimson hairs[1][11]. The toxic species are sometimes separated into their own genus, Toxicodendron, by some botanists[7]. 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. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

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  4. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

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

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  6. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  7. 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↩10

  8. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

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

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  11. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

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  13. Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00

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

    ↩

  15. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  16. Coyle. J. and Roberts. N. C. A Field Guide to the Common and Interesting Plants of Baja California. Natural History Publishing Co. 1975-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  17. Balls. E. K. Early Uses of Californian Plants. University of California Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-520-00072-2

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  18. Sweet. M. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West. Naturegraph Co. 1962-00-00 ISBN 0-911010-54-8

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  19. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩

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