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Summary

A hardy evergreen, prostrate shrub making an excellent groundcover plant. The fruit has a has a soft juicy flesh and a delicious sweet slightly aromatic flavour. The fruit is produced in late autumn and early winter and is up to 1cm in diameter. It is a valuable fruit at this time of the year. The leaves are a tea substitute.

Physical Characteristics

Myrteola nummularia is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from November to December. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) 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. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Myrteola nummularia.

Plant Habitats

Ground Cover; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves
Edible Uses: Tea

Fruit - raw or cooked. A sweet and agreeable flavour[2, 105]. The fruit is up to 1cm in diameter, it has a soft juicy flesh and a delicious slightly aromatic flavour[K]. It is produced in late autumn and early winter, and is a very valuable fruit at this time of the year[K]. The leaves are a tea substitute[177].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Suitable for ground cover when spaced about 45cm apart each way, the plants form a carpet of low branches that root as they spread[208]. Plants are a bit slow to become established and will need weeding for their first few years after planting[K].

Special Uses

Ground cover

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any reasonably good soil[1] including dry ones. Prefers a moderately fertile well-drained loam in a sunny position[11, 200]. Prefers a cool position according to another report. Tolerates maritime exposure[182]. This species is not very hardy when grown outdoors in Britain, succeeding to the south and west of London[11]. A group of plants in a sunny position on a rock garden at Kew Gardens seem to be perfectly happy and hardy, producing a reasonable crop of fruit in December 1996[K]. A good carpeting plant for moist stones etc in a rockery[11]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow it in late winter in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle 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[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up in the autumn and overwinter in a cold frame. Plant out in late spring. High percentage[78]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, 7 - 12cm with a heel, November in a shaded and frost free frame. Plant out in late spring or early autumn. High percentage[78]. Layering.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

SOUTHERN AMERICA: Venezuela (Apure, Mérida, Táchira), Brazil (Amazonas (n. (Serra da Neblina))), Bolivia (Cochabamba, La Paz), Colombia (Antioquia, Arauca, Bolívar, Caldas, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Huila, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Nariño), Ecuador (Azuay, Carchi, Imbabura, Morona Santiago, Napo, Pastaza, Tungurahua, Zamora Chinchipe), Peru (Ayacucho, Cusco, Huánuco, Pasco), Argentina (Neuquén, Río Negro, Santa Cruz, Tierra del Fuego), Chile (Juan Fernández Islands, Biobío, Magallanes, Aisén del General Carlos Ibañez del Campo, La Araucanía, Los Lagos)

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

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.

Myrteola nummularia - (Poir.)O.Berg.