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Cuphea viscosissima - Jacq.

Common Name Tarweed, Blue waxweed
Family Lythraceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known
Range N. America.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Cuphea viscosissima Tarweed, Blue waxweed


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Llez
Cuphea viscosissima Tarweed, Blue waxweed
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Llez

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Cuphea viscosissima is a ANNUAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

The plant has potential as an oil seed crop (World Economic Plants)

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

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

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Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

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PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any reasonably fertile soil in full sun or part shade[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

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 - this can be sown in a greenhouse in early spring, putting the young plants out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Seed can also be sown outdoors in situ in mid to late spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Connecticut, Indiana (south), Massachusetts (east), New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont (east-central), West Virginia, Iowa, Kansas (east), Missouri, Nebraska (east), Illinois, Oklahoma (east), Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina (north-central), Tennessee, Virginia)

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 :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

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

Jacq.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

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

Readers comment

Stephen L. Johnson   Sat Feb 25 2006

Cuphea carthagenensis (Jacq.) J.F. Macbr. (Lythraceae) induced a significant reduction in plasma cholesterol in rats. Cuphea viscosissima should also have similar qualities.

Entrez PubMed Useful for cholesterole control

   Fri May 4 2007

This plant has medicinal uses.

Henriette's Herbal Homepage

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Subject : Cuphea viscosissima  
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