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Common Name: Tree Violet

General Information

Hymenanthera dentata is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 6.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Australia - New South Wales, Victoria.

Habitat

River banks and on basalt and silurian soils to high elevations[].

Properties

Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	6.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in a sunny position in most soils[]. Prefers a moderately fertile well-drained but moisture-retentive soil in a sunny sheltered position[].
Plants are frost-tender and so cannot be grown outdoors in Britain[]. They tolerate temperatures down to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[] though this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer, colder and wetter winters. An alpine form of this species does exist and this should be hardier than the type[]. The very closely related H. angustifolia. DC., which is considered by some botanists to be no more than a variety of this species, is quite hardy at Kew and is said to tolerate temperatures down to about -10°c[]. Even if the two plants are separate species, then H. angustifolia is likely to have the same uses as this plant[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A light-fast purple dye is obtained from the berries[].
The plant makes a good screen or hedge[]. It is unlikely to be of any use for this purpose in Britain due to its tenderness[].
Wood - hard, bright yellow. Used for turnery[].

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in late winter or early spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots 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.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 4 - 5cm with a heel, mid summer in a headily shaded frame. Pot up in spring. Good percentage[].
Cuttings of mature side-shoots, 4 - 5cm with a heel, autumn in a cold frame. Lift in the following mid spring. High percentage[].