Bastard Toad Flax (Comandra richardsiana)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Full sun
Cultivation
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 many parts of this country. It is quite possibly no more than a form of C. umbellata. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Requires a well-drained moisture retentive lime-free soil. A parasitic plant obtaining at least some of its nutrients from the roots of other plants, we do not know the host species[K].
Propagation
Seed - stratify for 3 months at 5°c and then sow in the greenhouse in a pot with a suitable host. Plant out when it is well established close to a mature host plant.
Edible uses
Fruit - raw.
Habitat
Calcareous, gravelly, sandy or marly soils.
Native range
Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Quebec and south to Kansas.