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Helichrysum italicum
  • Curry Plant

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Helichrysum genus in the family Compositae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Hedge
    Hedge
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 8
    Zone 8
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Helichrysum italicum has 0 edible uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves - used as a flavouring in salads and cooked foods[1][2][3]. They have a slight flavour of curry, though they do not impart this very well to other foods[K].

An essential oil (from the leaves?) is used as a flavouring to enhance fruit flavours in sweets, ice cream, baked goods, soft drinks and chewing gum[1].

A tea is made from the flower heads[1].

Unknown part

Condiment
Tea

Material uses

Plants can be grown as a low hedge, the subspecies H. italicum serotinum(Boiss.)P.Fourn. is normally used[4]. It responds well to trimming.
There are no material uses listed for Helichrysum italicum.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Helichrysum italicum.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Hedge

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow February/March in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks at 20°c. 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, 5cm with a heel, June/July in a frame. Roots in 4 weeks. Good percentage[5].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Helichrysum italicum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a light well-drained soil in a sunny sheltered position[6][7]. Intolerant of excessive moisture[6]. Established plants are drought resistant[8]. Plants have proved to be fairly wind tolerant in an exposed site in Cornwall[K].

This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to about -10°c[7]. Plants can be pruned back to the old wood in spring in order to maintain the shape of the plant and promote lots of new growth[2]. The whole plant smells of curry, especially after rain[2]. The flowering stems are often dried and used as 'everlasting flowers'[2].

Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[9].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Helichrysum italicum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Helichrysum italicum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Helichrysum italicum
Genus
Helichrysum
Family
Compositae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3]
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
[4]
Botanic
[10][7]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Hedge
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
8
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
  • Strong wind
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
evergreen
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
0.6 x 1 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Insects
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

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"image:Helichrysum italicum flowers.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Helichrysum italicum flowers.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Helichrysum italicum flowers.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Helichrysum italicum flowers.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.4 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.1 Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. ISBN 0-330-30725-8 (1990-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.1 Shepherd. F.W. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society. ISBN 0900629649 (1974-00-00)
  5. ? Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.17.2 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  8. ? Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent ISBN 0460045512 (1982-00-00)
  9. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)
  10. ? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PFAFimport-50

"image:Helichrysum italicum flowers.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Helichrysum_italicum&oldid=77671"
Facts about "Helichrysum italicum"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyCompositae +
Belongs to genusHelichrysum +
Functions asHedge +
Has binomial nameHelichrysum italicum +
Has common nameCurry Plant +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has edible partUnknown part +
Has edible useCondiment + and Tea +
Has environmental toleranceHigh wind + and Drought +
Has fertility typeInsects +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone8 +
Has imageHelichrysum italicum flowers.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has mature height0.6 +
Has mature width1 +
Has primary imageHelichrysum italicum flowers.jpg +
Has search namehelichrysum italicum + and curry plant +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil texture preferenceSandy + and Loamy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
Has taxonomy nameHelichrysum italicum +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
PFAF medicinal use notes migratedYes +
PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Helichrysum italicum + and Helichrysum italicum +