Lance leaved Dogbane, Lance leaved Kendry
Trachomitum lancifolium

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

Trachomitum lancifolium is a PERENNIAL growing to 3 m (9ft) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 3

Where it is found

Boreal to warm temperate climates. Semi-arid areas.

Siberia, Central Asia, Mongolia, N. China

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Northern Asia and SE Europe: Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, Siberia, Central Asia, Iran, Iraq, Cyprus, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, and Japan.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 1

Cultivated in Korea for medical purposes. Used for a hypertension treatment.

Other

Rating: 4

Carbon Farming Solutions - Industrial Crop: fiber (Crops grown for non-food uses. Industrial crops provide resources in three main categories: materials, chemicals, and energy. Traditional materials include lumber and thatch, paper and cardboard, and textiles). The dogbane-milkweed family Asclepias, Apocynum, Calotropis, and Trachomitum spp) has been used for fiber industrial crops for millennia with a number in cultivation as regional crops. All of these crops are dual-purpose fibres, offering bast fibres from the stem and seed fiber or ‘floss’ in the fruit pods. Many have also been identified as potential hydrocarbon crops due to high latex content. Could be integrated into various agroforestry systems rather than as monocultures. A good bee/honey plant.

Industrial Crop: Fiber: Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!

Management: Hay: Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Minor Global Crop: These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

Industrial Crop: Fiber: Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!

Management: Hay: Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Minor Global Crop: These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

Climate: boreal to warm temperate. Humidity: semi-arid to humid. Grows in high saline soils, but removes very low amount of salts and thus, can be considered as a salt-tolerant but not a salt-removing species. Will grow in semi-arid areas. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: minor global crop. Management: hay (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation).

Propagating it: Seed. Cuttings

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 4-9

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Lance leaved Dogbane, Lance leaved Kendry, Sword-leaf dogbane

Synonyms

Apocynum lancifolium Russanov