Medicinal Uses

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit | Edible Uses: CoffeeFruit - raw or cooked[173]. The fruit is freely borne, it is sweet but has little flavour[225]. The orange fruit is about 9mm long x 5mm wide[200, 225]. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[153, 173]. It is said to make an excellent coffee, though the seeds are rather small[225].

Cultivation

Requires a moist, very well-drained neutral to slightly acid soil in full sun or light shade[200]. Succeeds in most soils[225]. Somewhat intolerant of frost, this species is only likely to succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of Britain[1, 200]. Plants are fairly hardy in Essex according to another report, which says that they are worthy shrubs for a woodland garden[225]. There are some named forms, selected for their ornamental value[225]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[200, 225]. Plants are tolerant of heavy clipping or pruning[225]. Plants are normally dioecious, though occasionally the plants produce a few flowers of the opposite sex before the main flowering and a few hermaphrodite flowers are sometimes produced[44, 225]. Male and female plants must usually be grown if seed is required.

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Lowland forest and shrubland, especially on alluvial soils, on North, South and Chatham Islands, south to latitude 45°south[44, 225].