Sun-Opener, Sinicuichi

Poor soil? No problem.
Hot afternoon sun? No problem.
Drought conditions? No problem.
Zone 7-8 winter? No problem....Read Morer />
Treat this durable woody shrub as one would any Mediterreanean plant (e.g. lavender, fennel, rosemary, etc.), and it will thrive with minimal care. Healthy specimens display yellow blooms throughout spring and summer, which are attractive to pollinators. 3 strong specimens grown from tiny, pixie-dust like seed have reached 3m (10') in height in 3 seasons.

Beautifull plant... it looks very mediterranean, it has beautifull leaves, a rough maple like bark, beautifull yellow flowers which appea...Read Morers as long it is warm and sunny. it seems very tolerant of pruning , when you prune it you get less flower and seed development. flowers are very numerous and appear wether you pinch dead flowers or not, foliage is aromatic.

according to numerous people a few year old specimen can easily tolerate -10 C up to -15 C in a spot with full sun, moderate/good drainage and sheltered against wind. right now it seems somewhat like rosemary or lavender in its needs only difference is that it blooms way longer from mid spring to early / mid autumn.

reason i got this plant is because of its psychoactive and medicinal effects. according to science it contains multiple compounds that are anti-inflammatory and inhibits prostglandin 2 or 3 times better than aspirin. other effects are sedating , anxiolytic, anti depressant effects and memory enhancement ( probably due to action on acetylcholine ).

i have smoked dried leaves a few times and it does create a very mild high , more in the sense of calming and anti anxiety effects not so much in the recreational department. i could sleep better and when i just lay on the couch late night my body became really tired and heavy it's very relaxing. i also notice that i could remember things that i have forgotten , lost memories of many years ago so its somewhat nootropic.

according to native indians its either put in water and fermented in the sun for 24 hours and consumed OR smoked with yerba mate. i can vouch for the last combination, it really works and it tasted and smells really good. Right now its in my top 20 list of most important medicinal plants.
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EDIT 15 august 2015 .. i rooted softwood / semi softwood cuttings in water without rooting hormone on a bright but sunless spot. takes about 4 weeks until proper roots have formed, you need to refresh the water daily ( or more ). this one doesn't seem to be difficult to propagate with cuttings.
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EDIT 17 APRIL 2016

The larger specimen in 2 gallon pots got pests inside the house and whatever i did they all bounced back in a day. The plant has average pest resistance , i think i took many pests inside by taking it from outside to inside without really taking care ( no premature insect prevention , spraying etc ) of it.

So it became so infested i just had to take it outside mid winter. Inside the temperature was about 20 C and outside during night and day it was around -5 C. The plant lost all its leaves due to shock but right now the buds are all expanding, the cuttings and smaller plants survived the cold in really small pots and were very wet ( they also survived around -5 C to -8 many days without getting defoliated) but still survived.

This plant is tough as nails, i just think it does better with good drainage by mixing in expanded clay aggregrate. It was very wet in winter and the pot contained moisture retentive soil, i think its just better to give it good drainage just in case, also don't understimate the drought tolerance of this shrub.

I am still excited by its medicinal qualities and i suspect is has inhibiting or stabilizing action on mast cells. i found that i works better when smoked or vaped, i personally like to mix it with nicotiana glauca.

This is a plant that really makes me excited, once i see it i start thinking how can i fill my whole yard with this species. then i look around and i notice i have dozens other medicinal plants waiting to be planted. This plant always attract my attention.