Re: Psoralea pinnata

Irene Kuffel wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I made an impulse buy of a psoralea pinnata this weekend, and now, in
> researching its care on the web, I see that it shows up in a few weed
> compendiums, though without any information as to exactly how it is
> invasive. (Wouldn't it be nice if nurseries and plant sales provided
> online access, so one could google _before_ buying. :-)))
>
> It's native to S. Africa, and does seem to be cultivated in Australia
> and NZ, so perhaps some of you in the So. hemisphere can advise? Is
> it only invasive in wet lands? I'm nowhere close to streams, and plan
> on putting it in a fairly dry area - will it flourish on low water?

Irene
Regarding NZ experience with Psoralea, Though I haven't grown it myself
because the suburb I live in is slightly too frosty for its liking, my
son in Wellington has had one for some time. You may he interested to konw it was a seedling from his Mother-in-Law's garden not far way. She had a heavy natural seeding in her garden one year and gave many away.

Judging by what your other correspondents have said it does appear to be be happiest in moist soil, but in Nicks garden has grown vigorously though his soil is only a little better than beach sand and subject to a good deal of drying wind. He has noticed though that it appears to be very greedy of water and sucks so much out of the soil nothing else will grow in its root zone. The garden it came from is certainly more sheltered and has I think heavier soil as it is further back from the sea, but it certainly would not be really moist as it is well up on the side of a hill. What triggered the germination I don't know, but it was in an inner city garden and was certainly not caused by either fire or ingestion by any animal, unless possibly some sort of bird (but that surely would have been more likely to get rid of it elsewhere after time for digestion!).

Nick's plant has grown leggy as Glen mentions, but forms quite a neat parasol-like canopy at its chosen height. It certainly is beautiful when in flower.

Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ.     Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
NEW PICTURES ADDED 4/Feb/2004

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