Cranberry Heath
Astroloma humifusum
Family: Epacridaceae
What it is like
Astroloma humifusum is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Height (m): 0.1
Where it is found
Sandy loams in the mountain zone. In heathland and open forests. Also found on cleared land in a range of soils including sandstone, shale and heavy clay.
Australia - Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 3
Fruit - raw. A sweet viscid pulp. The taste is somewhat like apples. The fruit is a drupe about 7 - 11mm wide.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
Succeeds in most well-drained soils. Established plants are moderately drought tolerant. This species is hardy to about -7°c in Australian gardens, but this cannot be translated directly to British gardens because of our cooler summers and longer, colder and wetter winters. Plants can survive frosts in Britain, particularly if the roots are well mulched, but they are best when grown in a cold greenhouse in this country. The plants have a very fine root system which makes transplanting difficult.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The seed has a hard coat and some form of scarification is necessary or the seed can take up to 5 years to germinate. Two or three periods each of 4 - 6 weeks cold stratification can reduce the time taken to germinate. As soon as 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. When large enough, plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of firm young tip growths. It is very difficult to obtain suitable wood and the cuttings are slow to root.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: 7-10
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist