Spurge Olive
Cneorum tricoccon
Family: Cneoraceae
What it is like
Cneorum tricoccon is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.6 m (2ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy) 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.
Height (m): 0.6
Where it is found
Rocky, usually calcareous slopes.
Europe - W. Mediterranean.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 1
Purgative, rubefacient.
Purgative: A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.
Rubefacient: A counter-irritant and external stimulant, it produces inflammation and redness of the skin.
Other
Rating:
Used as a fuel. The plant is rich in tannin.
Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.
Tannin: An astringent substance obtaied from plants, it is used medicinally, as a dye and mordant, stabilizer in pesticide etc.
How it is grown
Prefers a sunny position and a lightish soil. Plants are hardy to about -15°c according to one report, whilst another says that they are not hardy at Kew although they succeed outdoors in the milder areas of Britain. However, a shrub on a sunny gentle slope at Kew was 60cm tall in 1989 (planted in 1981?) and produced viable seed.
Propagating it: Seed - sow in a greenhouse from late winter to mid summer. Only just cover the seed and keep moist. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 6 months at 20°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, August in a frame. Overwinter in frost-free conditions.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: 8-11
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist