Herb: U?i


Latin name: Ugni molinae


Synonyms: Eugenia ugni, Myrtus ugni


Family: Myrtaceae (Myrtle Family)



Edible parts of U?i:

Fruit - raw or cooked. An absolutely delicious flavour, it is very aromatic and tastes of wild strawberries. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter and is freely borne even on small plants. Leaves are a tea substitute. The roasted seeds are a coffee substitute.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Evergreen
Shrub

Height:
2 m
(6 1/2 foot)

Flowering:
May to
July

Habitat of the herb:

Woodland edges and scrub.

Other uses of U?i:

Tolerant of trimming, it can be grown as a small hedge in the milder parts of Britain.

Propagation of the herb:

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow it in late winter in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle 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. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up in the autumn and overwinter in a cold frame. Plant out in late spring. High percentage. Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, 7 - 12cm with a heel, November in a shaded and frost free frame. Plant out in late spring or early autumn. High percentage. Layering.

Cultivation of U?i:

Woodland edges and scrub.

Medicinal use of the herb:

None known

Known hazards of Ugni molinae:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.