Cyathodes juniperina

At a glance

Lifecycle: Perennial (hardy)
Exposure: Partial shade

Cultivation

Requires a moist well-drained lime-free humus rich soil in a sheltered site in partial or dappled shade. Slow growing. This species is not very hardy in Britain, it might succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of the country otherwise it is best grown in a cold greenhouse. Plants have very fine root systems and great care must be taken when transplanting them. C. robusta is closely related to this species and is sometimes more generous with its small white fruits.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in an ericaceous soil mix, February/March in a cold frame. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first 2 growing seasons and, when large enough, plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Neither easy nor reliable. Air layering. Division of the plants as they come into growth in the spring. We have found it best not to dig up the main clump, but to tease out small divisions from the sides of the plant. Make sure that these are well rooted and pot them up in light shade in a greenhouse. Grow them on for their first summer in the greenhouse and plant them out in late spring, after the last expected frosts.

Edible uses

Fruit - raw or cooked.

Habitat

Forest and scrub from the coast to the montane zone on North, South and Stewart Islands of New Zealand.

Native range

Australia - Tasmania and New Zealand.