Proboscidea parviflora
This rather low-growing species with sticky foliage has beautiful, fragrant yellow or pink flowers followed by highly decorative claw-shaped capsules 10 to 15 cm long.
When young, they can be eaten raw, cooked or candied in vinegar.
Also known as Louisiana Martynia.
in bucket
Sow seeds under cover a few weeks before pricking out seedlings after the last frosts. This species behaves like a cucurbit in terms of garden space.
Native to the southern USA and Mexico, Proboscidea parviflora is a member of the Martyniaceae family and needs a lot of heat!
March, April, May
August, September, October
in the ground, in the greenhouse, in pot
sunny
medium
drained, light, rich
Proboscidea parviflora
mid-season
20 seeds
Yellow, Pink
From 30 to 40 cm
From 10 to 15 cm
Amerindian peoples (Pima, Papago, Hualapai, Apache, etc.) consumed them young and used the mature bolls to make baskets after defibrating them - in other words, after peeling the fibrous bundles from the surface of the bolls. In fact, Devil's Claw fiber is considered by a plethora of Amerindian peoples to be the strongest fiber, and was used as a binding material in basketry. It is also a medicinal plant renowned for its ability to treat kidney, liver, spleen and gall-bladder disorders. It also increases appetite, stimulates circulation and relieves arthritis and rheumatism. The Pima people used it to make analgesic moxas for rheumatic pain.
