Common Name:

General Information

Azorella trifurcata is a low-growing, evergreen perennial plant forming a dense cushion of growth up to 45cm in diameter[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens, valued especially for its mat-forming habit.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southern S. America - Argentina, Chile, Falkland Islands

Habitat

Coastal sands, gravels and rocky areas; streambanks; open grassland; dry Empetrum heath and forest margins; At elevations up to 200 metres in Tierra Del Fuego and north to latitude 51°south in Chile, 41°south in Argentina[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Azorella trifurcata is hardy to at least -17°c[].
Requires a position in full sun in a well-drained gritty soil[].

Edible Uses

Root - raw or cooked[].

Medicinal

Hepatic. It is used in the treatment of liver and kidney problems[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant's dense, mat-forming habit makes it a very effective ground cover plant, though its slow rate of growth needs to be taken into consideration[].

Other Uses

A resin is obtained from the plant[]. Its uses are not given in the report but are possibly connected to its medicinal properties.

Propagation

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in late winter in a cold frame. Grow on for at least the first winter in a greenhouse or frame and plant out in late spring.
Division.