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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Corema album is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. 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) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Empetrum album.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked[200].

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.

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a light or medium lime-free soil[11, 182], succeeding in full sun or light shade[182]. Plants are growing very well in a sandy peat in a garden near London[11]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed and fruit is required[182].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 5 months warm stratification followed by 3 months at 5°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, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, November in a frame.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

EUROPE: Spain (Andalucía, Andalucía, Galicia, Galicia), Portugal AFRICA: Portugal (Azores)

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 itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Corema conradii	Poverty Grass, Broom crowberry	Shrub	0.3	3-7		LM	SN	DM	1	0

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.)D.Don.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


Paulo Bessa	Mon Nov 24 2008

I am portuguese and we have found for several times this plant in our sea coasts. You can eat it easily, there´s apparently no harm (once I ate a lot and I was completely fine), traditional people from those places are used to catch them in the wild, and sell them. The taste is sweet and acid. It prefers that kind of cultivation: sea climate, sandy soils, sun and humidity.

Cantinho verde (translated: the green little spot) Our homemade website in our small and first permaculture experiences (mostly urban until now)

Corema album - (L.)D.Don.