Practical
Plants

Laurelia sempervirens

Chilean Laurel

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Laurelia genus in the family Atherospermataceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
15 m
Spread
15 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Insects
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

The bark and leaves are used as a spice[7]. The fruit and the seed are used[9][11][13][5].

Product or use
Condiment

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

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

Nervine, skin. It is also used in the treatment of colds, paralysis, stomach problems and VD[4].

Product or use
Nervine
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
VD

Material uses

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

Wood - not durable, malodorous if cut across the grain. Used in construction[4]. It burns well but gives little heat[4].

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
S. America - Chile.
Habitat
Moist and wet soils in forests, deep gullies and creek beds[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
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 - sow February or March in a warm greenhouse. Germination rates are variable[14]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions 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, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in individual pots in sandy soil in a frame. Keep them moist. Fair percentage[14]. Layering in spring[14].

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in sun or semi-shade in any moderately fertile soil, including a limey soil, so long as it does not dry out in the growing season[10]. Requires a warm position sheltered from cold winds[10]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c[10]. It succeeds outdoors in the mildest areas of the country[1], growing well and flowering regularly in Cornwall[3][12]. Another report says that plants have withstood temperatures down to -11°c[2]. The foliage is very aromatic[8]. Closely related to L. serrata[6]. Another report says that L. serrata is a synonym for this species[10]. Plants are often dioecious, male and female plants will need to be grown if fruit and seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. RHS. The Garden. Volume 111. Royal Horticultural Society 1986-00-00

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  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

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  4. ? Flora of Chile. (in Spanish)

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  6. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

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  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

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  8. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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  9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  12. Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.

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  13. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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