Agroforestry Services: Living fence  Industrial Crop: Fiber  Management: Standard  Regional Crop

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Erosion control, Foundation, Ground cover, Massing, Rock garden, Seashore, Specimen. A very easily grown plant, it thrives in most soils but prefers a sandy loam and full exposure to the south[11]. Dislikes peaty or chalky soils[111]. Can succeed in light shade[K]. Plants are hardier when grown on poor sandy soils[200]. Established plants are very drought resistant[190]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c when grown in a well-drained soil. This species is one of the toughest members of the genus and once established is capable of surviving, and even thriving, despite considerable neglect. Plants growing in dense weed competition on our Cornwall trial grounds have managed to spread and even flower[K]. A very ornamental and free flowering species[1], there are some named varieties[182]. In the plants native environment, its flowers can only be pollinated by a certain species of moth. This moth cannot live in Britain and, if fruit and seed is required, hand pollination is necessary. This can be quite easily and successfully done using something like a small paint brush. Individual crowns are monocarpic, dying after flowering[233]. However, the crown will usually produce a number of sideshoots before it dies and these will grow on to flower in about four years[233]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]. Special Features:Attracts birds, Attractive foliage, North American native, Attracts butterflies, Attractive flowers or blooms.

Carbon Farming

• Agroforestry Services: Living fence  Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.
• Industrial Crop: Fiber  Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!
• Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
• Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.