Nertera granadensis

Nertera granadensis subsp. var.	coral bead plant, pin-cushion plant, bead plant
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Nertera granadensis (syn. N. depressa; also known as coral bead plant, pin-cushion plant, or bead plant) is a ground cover with orange berries, of the genus Nertera. Nertera granadensis has an unusually extensive trans-continental distribution surrounding the mid and S Pacific Ocean. In the tropical regions of the western Pacific, Nertera granadensis only occurs at high altitudes. It is grown as an ornamental plant

Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Nertera depressa, Banks & Soland. Bead-plant. Glabrous: variable in size, sometimes forming patches: sts. 6-10 in. long, 4-cornered: Lvs. 2 lines long, broadly ovate, acute or obtuse, leathery or almost fleshy; petioles about as long as the blades; stipules very small: fls. solitary, greenish. — The bead- or coral-bead-plant is a hardy perennial alpine or rock-plant which forms a dense mat of foliage covered with orange-colored translucent berries the size of a pea. It ranges throughout the Andes, from the tropics to Cape Horn. It also inhabits Tristan d'Acunha, and the mountains of New Zeal, and Tasmania. It is prop. by seed or division. The plant needs a sandy soil, with some leaf -mold, and prefers shade in summer and may need some winter covering in the N. It makes a good house plant and well-fruited specimens are occasionally used abroad in fancy bedding as a novelty. The fr. may last from midsummer well into the winter. In S. Calif., N. depressa grows well in the open if it is kept moist and does not receive the direct rays of the sun. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Cultivation

As a house plant, Nertera granadensis is somewhat difficult to maintain, and it is not recommended for beginners. The soil should be porous. It should be kept in a bright, semi-shaded place - a south facing window is ideal - and should not be left in direct sunlight.

During the summer, Nertera granadensis can be kept outdoors, but it still needs to be protected from direct sunlight. The temperature should not be too warm, although it should not go below 8 degrees Celsius (around 45 Fahrenheit) in the winter. During the winter and autumn gardeners should wait until the soil dries between watering.

When the flowers and berries begin forming in the spring, one should increase watering so that during the spring and the summer the soil is kept moist at all times, and the leaves and berries should be moistened occasionally, but not too frequently, as they could rot. The plant should be fed monthly with a weak solution (water-soluble fertilizers, diluted to half strength, are best) during spring/summer until it begins to flower. When the berries begin to die (turn black) they should be carefully removed.

Gallery

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

• w:Nertera granadensis. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
• Nertera granadensis QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)