Herb: Turkey Bush


Latin name: Myoporum deserti


Synonyms: Eremophila deserti


Family: Myoporaceae



Edible parts of Turkey Bush:

Fruit - raw or cooked. A sweet flavour. Caution is advised, see notes above on possible toxicity.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Evergreen
Shrub

Height:
3 m
(9 3/4 foot)

Habitat of the herb:

Loamy soils, mainly in arid regions.

Propagation of Turkey Bush:

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When 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. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for their first few winters outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up in the autumn. Good percentage.

Cultivation of the herb:

Loamy soils, mainly in arid regions.

Medicinal use of Turkey Bush:

None known

Known hazards of Myoporum deserti:

Although no records of toxicity have been found for this species, the fruits of at least some members of this genus are known to contain liver toxins and can be harmful in large quantities.

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.