A half hardy evergreen shrub growing to 1.8 metres tall. The fruit of this shrub are edible and sweet. What it is best known for is it’s leaves which are made into a tea called ‘Mormon tea’. Traditionally, the green or dried twigs are steeped in boiling water. the twigs can be roasted before-hand to improve the flavour of the tea. Medicinally, the leaves and stems are used to treat many ailments including asthma, rheumatism, and colds, coughs, stomach ulcers, kidney problems, respiratory problems. The stems are a blood purifier, diuretic, and tonic. A poultice from the mashed up stems can be used to treat syphilis, sores, and burns. This plant produces a light tan coloured dye.
culture:
– a half hardy, evergreen shrub
– Grows best in a loamy, well drained soil
– Full sun
– This plant is not frost tolerant, so must be taken inside for the winter
– it will not tolerate wet soil, so make sure to keep the compost on the drier side
-This plant tends to be a very slow grower
– sow seeds in early spring or autumn in a greenhouse
– divisions in early spring
– layering any time of the year
