It is a real gem for a garden, it has long branches covered with beautiful, shiny string of leaves. This plant need a cool, damp environment, and is not especially cold-hardy. Cold stratification increases considerably the germination rate. This plant contains alcaloides coriamirtina y tutina, which makes it both toxic and narcotic. If you think about trying it out, think twice, because in Chile the seeds were traditionally used as a rat poison. All parts except for the fleshy fruit (which are really modified petals of the flower) are poisonous, and it is said that the fleshy part of the fruit can be used to prepare juice or wine. We do not recommend it because of the risks involved.
|