Lemonade Berry {Rhus Integrifolia} Edible | Coffee Sub | Landscaping | Showy Blooms | 5 seeds Free Shipping!

 

 

Rhus integrifolia is commonly known as Lemonade Berry.

Variable form; bushy & mounding coastal, more tree like inland. Tough 

leathery leaves along the branches with clusters of sticky sour fruits. 

Little to no water, but ok with more. Good for fill, slopes, hedges/screen, 

and wildlife. Best grown 5-10 miles from coast.

 

Rhus integrifolia

 

- is a small tree or shrub and evergreen 

 

- blooms from Feb–May with pink flowers/coral fruit 

 

- grows 3' to 30' high, 3'-20' wide 

 

- does best with full sun to part shade; various sandy loams preferred 

 

- is known to tolerate temperatures down to 25°F

 

 

 

When germinating seed, nick seeds and sow outside with rainy weather.

 

 

Fruit - raw or cooked. The fruit is covered with a pleasant acid-tasting 

exudation that can be sucked. The fruit is small, up to 10mm in diameter, 

with very little flesh, but it is produced in fairly large panicles and 

so is easily harvested. When soaked for 10 - 30 minutes in hot or cold

 water it makes a very refreshing lemonade-like drink (without any fizz 

of course). The mixture should not be boiled since this will release 

tannic acids and make the drink astringent.The leaves have been chewed 

to assuage thirst.The roasted fruit is a coffee substitute.

 

Germination

 

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soak the seed 

for 24 hours in hot water (starting at a temperature of 80 - 90c and 

allowing it to cool) prior to sowing in order to leach out any germination 

inhibitors. This soak water can be drunk and has a delicious lemon-flavour. 

The stored seed also needs hot water treatment and can be sown in early 

spring in a cold frame[14]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when 

they are large enough to handle. It might be wise to grow the plants on in 

pots for a few years before planting out Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10cm 

with a heel, July/August in a frame. Root cuttings 4cm long taken in December 

and potted up vertically in a greenhouse. Good percentage.