![]() For these conditions, it is taken internally. Modern herbalists primarily use butcher's broom as supportive therapy for poor circulation, hemorrhoids, varicose vein syndrome, and other manifestations of leaky vein walls and poor venous blood return to the heart. The seeds have been roasted and used as a coffee substitute.įew of these uses survive today. ![]() At one time, the plant was eaten as a vegetable in the United States. It was also used as a diuretic to reduce swelling in the hands and feet, and to reduce inflammation due to arthritis. In the past, it was used as a laxative and as a treatment for gout, jaundice, kidney stones, and broken bones. General useīutcher's broom has been used in folk medicine as far back as the first century a.d. Other names for Butcher's broom include kneeholm, knee holly, sweet broom, Jew's myrtle, pettigree, and box holly. This herb has spread to many other parts of the world including Great Britain, the United States, and western Asia. Butcher'sīroom has a few small greenish white flowers that mature into red, cherry-sized berries. The root, which is the medicinal part, is fleshy. Its leaves are small and laced with brown membranes. The shrub grows to less than 3 ft (1 m) in height and about the same size in girth in shady, moist, uncultivated ground. ![]() aculeatus is a common evergreen shrub native to Mediterranean countries. The bush does display ovate, thick, spiny-tipped, glossy dark green, leaf-like structures (to 1 1/2 inches long) that are flattened leaf-like shoots (modified stems) called cladophylls on which the flowers and fruits are borne.Butcher's broom is the root of the plant Ruscus aculeatus. Leaves: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Broadleaf Evergreen Leaf Color: Gray/Silver Green White Leaf Feel: Prickly Leaf Value To Gardener: Long-lasting Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Arrangement: Alternate Hairs Present: No Leaf Length: 1-3 inches Leaf Description: Actual leaves are microscopic.Flowers: Flower Color: White Flower Inflorescence: Insignificant Flower Bloom Time: Spring Flower Shape: Star Flower Petals: Colored Sepals Flower Size: Fruit: Fruit Color: Red/Burgundy Fruit Value To Gardener: Showy Display/Harvest Time: Fall Winter Fruit Type: Berry Fruit Description: Glossy red fruit on female plants in fall (provided there is a male plant nearby).Cultural Conditions: Light: Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours) Soil Texture: Clay High Organic Matter Loam (Silt) Sand Soil pH: Acid (8.0) Neutral (6.0-8.0) Soil Drainage: Good Drainage Occasionally Dry NC Region: Coastal Piedmont USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. ![]() Whole Plant Traits: Plant Type: Shrub Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Broadleaf Evergreen Habit/Form: Erect Mounding Growth Rate: Slow Maintenance: Low Texture: Coarse Appendage: Prickles.Attributes: Genus: Ruscus Species: aculeatus Family: Asparagaceae Life Cycle: Woody Recommended Propagation Strategy: Division Seed Country Or Region Of Origin: North Africa, West Asia, Europe Dimensions: Height: 1 ft.Tags: #evergreen #heat tolerant #drought tolerant #shrub #salt tolerant #shade garden #showy fruits #dry soils tolerant #dry shade #hedge 'Butcher's Broom', 'Elizabeth Lawrence', 'Wheeler's Variety' See this plant in the following landscape: Cultivars / Varieties: The glossy dark green parts of the plant that appear to be leaves are actually shoots or stems that act as a base for the flowers and berries.ĭiseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: The actual leaves of this shrub are very small. The flowers of this plant are insignificant, but they are followed by bright, waxy, red berries that last from late summer into the winter. Regardless of this trait, you should plant both sexes in a ratio of one male to six female if maximizing fruit production is desired. Most species of Ruscus are dioecious (that is, have separate male and female plants) except for this species which sometimes has self-fertile flowers. The plant is also commonly known as Knee Holly because, when mature, it reaches knee height. It may sucker to form colonies and you should cut away dead stems at the base of the plant in the spring. Plants have a slowly creeping rootstock and will form large clumps. It is hardy and tolerates drought, heat, and salt. The plant grows well in partial or lightly shaded sites, but will tolerate full shade, in a range of soil types, and in average well-drained soil. Phonetic Spelling RUS-kus ah-kew-LAY-ah-tus Descriptionīutcher's broom, is an evergreen shrub in the Asparagaceae (asparagus) family.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |