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Common Name: Algerian Tea

General Information

Paronychia capitata is a Evergreen Perennial up to 0.03 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Europe - Mediterranean.

Habitat

Dry rocky habitats[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.03 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position succeeding in hot dry soils and tolerating drought once established[]. Requires a warm open position in full sun, in a sharply drained sandy or gritty soil. If the soil is too rich the plants leaves will not be so silvery[]. Plants can be grown in a wall[].
This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c, perhaps more if in a perfectly drained soil[]. This report is a little confusing since the same article says that the plant succeeds in climatic zone 5 and should therefore be hardy in almost all of Britain[].
This species is closely related to P. argentea but is less tolerant of winter cold and wet conditions[].

Edible Uses

An infusion of the flowers is used as a tea[].

Medicinal

An infusion of the leaves is aphrodisiac and diuretic[]. It is also used in the treatment of TB[].

Other Uses

Especially useful as a ground cover plant with bulbs, covering the soil after the bulbs have flowered[, ]. The plants form a low carpet, rooting as they spread, and they should be spaced about 30cm apart each way[].

Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in 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.
Division in spring[].