We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Stilbocarpa polaris - (Homb.&Jacq.)Gray.

Common Name
Family Araliaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Grows in the sub-Antarctic islands south of New Zealand[44].
Range New Zealand.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Stilbocarpa polaris


http://www.flickr.com/people/42527425@N00/
Stilbocarpa polaris

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Stilbocarpa polaris is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.8 m (6ft). 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

Aralia polaris.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Root  Stem
Edible Uses:

Root - cooked[105]. The long roots are saccharine and have been used by ship-wrecked sailors as sustenance for lengthened periods[2, 173]. Leaf stems - cooked. A celery flavour[173]. Leaves - cooked[173]. They taste like wet blotting paper[173].

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.

More
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.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

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

Shop Now

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of the country. One report says that it is possibly worthy of cultivation as an edible plant in cold countries[173]. The plant is likely to be very wind tolerant, probably of maritime exposure, but we do not know what other cultivation requirements it might have.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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

Fahrenheit:

image

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).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in late winter in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter, planting out in late spring or early summer. Division can be tried in spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

Coming Soon

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

(Homb.&Jacq.)Gray.

Botanical References

44

Links / References

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

Readers comment

Robert Berg   Sun Sep 23 2007

Where and how would i go about purchasing a Stilbocarpa plant or seeds?

Carol Vanderschaaf   Wed Oct 17 2007

In the book, Island of the Lost, by Joan Druett, this plant is mentioned as having teeth whitening properties when eaten by shipwreck survivors in the 1860's. Anyone have more information about this?

robert donaldson   Tue Apr 22 2008

I like Carol have read Island of the lost,by Joan Druet,I'd like to know more about the whitening properties as well.And could it be grown in Sydney.my email is [email protected] thankyou bob

mikayla   Wed Oct 22 2008

It seems that stilbocarpa is a little-known about plant...where could I find more info about it?

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Stilbocarpa polaris  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.