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Plants

Azara microphylla

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Azara genus in the family Flacourtiaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Azara
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
6 m
Spread
5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit[1]. No further details are given. The fruit is very small, about 3mm in diameter according to one report[4] and about 5mm according to another[6].

Plant part
Fruit

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
S. America - Chile and S. Argentina.
Habitat
Lakesides and along the edges of Nothofagus forests[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - can be sown in a greenhouse or cold frame at any time of the year, though late winter or as soon as the seed is ripe are probably the best times to sow[2]. It usually germinates within 1 - 3 months at 15°c, though it can take 18 months[2]. When large enough to handle, pot the seedlings up into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[5]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 7 - 10cm with a heel, November in a cold frame[8]. Takes 12 months[8]. Layering in spring. Takes 6 - 9 months[8].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a position in sun or light shade in a deep humus rich soil[4], but succeeds in ordinary garden soil[2]. Succeeds in almost any soil so long as it is not very wet or very dry[5]. Flowers better in a warm sheltered position[4]. Plants are subject to windburn if they are not in a sheltered position[4]. This species is generally hardy in the open in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -15°c[3], though young plants are less hardy[6]. The new growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts[5]. Cultivated for its edible fruit in Chile[1]. The flowers are sweetly fragrant and vanilla scented[3][7].

References

  1. ? Encyclopaedia Britannica. 15th edition.

    ↩1↩2

  2. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩1↩2

  7. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  8. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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