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Summary
Bloom Color: Green, Yellow.
Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Early fall, Early spring, Late summer, Late fall, Late spring, Mid summer, Mid fall, Mid spring. Soil Condition: Acidic, Alkaline, Loamy, Neutral, Sandy, Slightly alkaline, Well drained.
Physical Characteristics
Dodonaea viscosa is an evergreen Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 1.5 m (5ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). . The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
D. attenuata. A.Cunn.
Plant Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Hedge;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses: Condiment
Seed[177, 183]. No further details are given. The bitter fruits are a substitute for hops and yeast in making beer[177, 181, 183]. The chewed leaves are said to be stimulating[177, 183] but they contain saponins[181] and are also said to be slightly cyanogenic[152] so their use is not very advisable.
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anodyne Diaphoretic Febrifuge Odontalgic Vulnerary
The leaves are anodyne, astringent, diaphoretic, febrifuge (the var. angustissima is normally used[152]), odontalgic and vulnerary[152, 238]. They are applied internally in the treatment of fevers[238]. Externally, they are used to treat toothache, sore throats, wounds, skin rashes and stings[238, 257]. The leaves are apparently effective in the treatment of toothache if they are chewed without swallowing the juice[238]. The bark is employed in astringent baths and poultices[240].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Hedge Hedge Tannin Wood
The leaves contain up to 18% tannin[238]. Plants are very tolerant of pruning and make a good hedging plant for windy sites[188, 240]. Wood - heavy, tough, resistant. Used for wedges, hammers, turnery, inlay, cabinets etc[154].
Special Uses
Hedge Hedge
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Landscape Uses:Border, Pest tolerant, Hedge, Screen, Standard, Superior hedge, Specimen. Requires a light well-drained soil in a sunny position[200]. Succeeds in almost any fertile soil and in a hot dry position. Resists drought, salt winds and (atmospheric?) pollution[200]. Plants are very wind hardy but are not resistant to frost[166]. They tolerate temperatures down to about -7°c in Australian gardens[157], but are damaged at about 3°c in British gardens[200]. One report says that they succeed outdoors in the mildest gardens in Britain[182]. Plants are growing very well in pots in a polyhouse on our trial grounds in south Cornwall, but they have not survived in the open ground[K]. Our seed source was from Australia, other provenances might be more hardy[K]. Plants are difficult to transplant when they are more than 60 centimetres tall[200]. Polymorphic, there are a number of sub-species[154, 157]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Special Features:
Attractive foliage, North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plant Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[K]. The seed is slow to germinate according to one report[200], but it germinated in 3 weeks in a cold greenhouse with us[K]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a fairly sunny part of the greenhouse for at least their first winter. If trying them outdoors, then plant them out in early summer of their second or third year's growth after the last expected frosts and give them some protection from the cold for their next winter or two[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[188].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Native Range
TEMPERATE ASIA: Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, China (Fujian Sheng, Guangdong Sheng, Hainan Sheng, Yunnan Sheng), Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Taiwan TROPICAL ASIA: India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia (Papua), Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, India (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia (Jawa, Kalimantan, Lesser Sunda Islands, Maluku, Sulawesi, Sumatera), Malaysia, Philippines NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, California), Mexico (Chihuahua, Nuevo León, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Hidalgo, Morelos, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago, United States (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S.), Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina (Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán), Chile (north), Uruguay PACIFIC: United States (Hawaii), Marshall Islands, United States (Guam), French Polynesia, Fiji, New Caledonia, Niue, Tonga, Vanuatu, Samoa AUSTRALASIA: Australia (Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia (south), Northern Territory (south)), New Zealand AFRICA: Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa (Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Transvaal), Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
(L.)Jacq.
Botanical References
154200
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