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Bomarea edulis
Alstroemeriaceae FAMILY

Bomarea edulis

Bomarea edulis

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

The fresh sap of this plant can cause skin rashes in some people. The plant contains small quantities (up to 0.2%) of the compound tuliposide A, which probably hydrolizes on the skin to form the allergenic lactone tulipalin A. People who are allergic to the sap of tulips are very likely to also be sensitive to the sap of this plant[1, 2].

Cultivation Details

HabitPerennial Climber
Growth—

Bomarea edulis has a wide native range from Brazil and Bolivia north to Mexico - it can also be found from sea level to around 3,000 metres. Whilst it does not like a lot of cold, it can tolerate mild, short-lived winters in the temperate zone - it has been grown outdoors amongst shrubs in an open woodland at Kew Gardens in England (hardiness zone 7 - 8) for a number of years,) where it has flowered and produced seed in most years[PFAF]. It has also succeeded outdoors in Cornwall, England (hardiness zone 8). One report says that it is hardy to about -10°c[3], though if this is true the plant was probably dormant and the roots covered with a thick organic mulch[PFAF]..Another report says that plants prefer a minimum night temperature of 10°c[4]. Requires a warm sunny position and a well-drained slightly acid soil[5, 6]. Succeeds in any good soil in sun or partial shade[3]. Prefers a moderately sunny position on the woodland edge[7]. Keep the plants almost dry in winter[4] and apply a good thick organic mulch to the roots[6]. The mulch should be removed as growth commences in the spring because the young shoots are very susceptible to slug damage[PFAF]. The tubers should be planted about 15cm deep n the soil[8]. This genus is closely related to Alstroemeria species[6].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a warm greenhouse, it will germinate in a few weeks[5]. Stratify stored seed for 3 weeks at 20°c, then 3 weeks at 5°c[4]. It usually germinates in 1 - 2 months at 20°c[4]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in spring, with care since the roots are brittle. Each portion must have some roots and a growth bud[5]. Pot up the divisions, grow them on in the greenhouse until they are well established and then plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer or late spring of the following year. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Bomarea+edulis>

Pollinators

Bees

References

  1. [1]A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. — Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J. · Wolfe · 1984 · ISBN 0723408394 ↩︎Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far.
  2. [2]BoDD (Botanical Dermatology Database) — http://bodd.cf.ac.uk/ ↩︎Brief notes on a very wide range of plants that have reports of causing harm to the skin.
  3. [3]Perennials. Volumes 1 and 2. — Phillips. R. & Rix. M. · Pan Books · 1991 · ISBN 0-330-30936-9 ↩︎Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
  4. [4]Growing from Seed. Volume 3. — Bird. R. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1989 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.
  5. [5]RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 — F. Chittendon. · Oxford University Press · 1951 · ISBN - ↩︎Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).
  6. [6]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  7. [7]Flora of Guatemala — Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark · 1946 - 1976 · http://www.archive.org/ ↩︎A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
  8. [8]Perennial Garden Plants — Thomas. G. S. · J. M. Dent & Sons, London. · 1990 · ISBN 0 460 86048 8 ↩︎A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
  9. [9]Alternative Foods. — Sholto-Douglas. J. ↩︎Not very comprehensive, it seems more or less like a copy of earlier writings with little added.
  10. [10]Dictionary of Economic Plants. — Uphof. J. C. Th. · Weinheim · 1959 · ISBN - ↩︎An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
  11. [11]A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. — Usher. G. · Constable · 1974 · ISBN 0094579202 ↩︎Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
  12. [12]Plants for Human Consumption. — Kunkel. G. · Koeltz Scientific Books · 1984 · ISBN 3874292169 ↩︎An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
  13. [13]Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. — Hedrick. U. P. · Dover Publications · 1972 · ISBN 0-486-20459-6 ↩︎Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
  14. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎