The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.

Common Name:

General Information

Cyathodes colensoi is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 0.30 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

New Zealand.

Habitat

Montane to lower sub-alpine open grassland to rocky places and fellfield on North and South Islands[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.30 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a moist well-drained lime-free humus rich soil in a sheltered site in partial or dappled shade[, , ]. Plants are very susceptible to drought[]. A good rock garden plant. Slow growing[].
This species is fairly hardy in Britain but it can be damaged in very severe winters[]. Another report says that it is only hardy to about -5°c[], but plants have been seen growing on a very shady north-facing slope in a rock garden at Kew, which experiences lower temperatures than this[]. These plants were undamaged after the very cold winter of 1996 - 97 and were flowering freely in April 1997[]. Plants grow best in areas with moderate winters and cool moist summers[].
The sweetly scented flowers are produced in axillary clusters[].
Plants have very fine root systems and great care must be taken when transplanting them[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. A sweet mealy flesh[]. Rarely seen on plants growing in Britain[]. The fruit is about 5mm in diameter[]. One report says that the fruit contains up to 24% by dry weight of oil[], does this refer to the seed?[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A most attractive ground cover plant for the winter garden[].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in ericaceous soil, late winter/early spring in a cold frame[]. Do not exclude light[]. Germination can take place within 1 - 2 months at 18°c but often takes 3 - 5 years[]. Scarification will reduce the germination time and 2 or 3 periods of 4 - 6 weeks cold stratification alternated with 4 weeks warm stratification can also help[]. Perhaps sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe would also be beneficial[].The seedlings can be very slow to form roots and need to be potted up with great care[]. Grow them on in a greenhouse for at least two years before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[]. Neither easy nor reliable[].
Air layering[].