Practical
Plants

Maytenus boaria

Mayten Tree

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Maytenus genus in the family Celastraceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
10 m
Spread
8 m
Flower type
monoecious

Uses

Edible uses

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

An edible oil is obtained from the seed. Used for cooking[3].

Product or use
Oil

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
S. America - Argentina and Chile.
Habitat
Pasturelands, avoiding the competition for light from other trees[1].
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 - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in spring in a greenhouse. 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. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[5]. Division of suckers in the autumn or spring[4].

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in most soils in a sunny position[2] and also in semi-shade[4]. The soil should be well-drained but must not be allowed to dry out[5]. Requires a position sheltered from strong cold winds[4]. Tolerates temperatures down to about to about -10°c[5]. This species has a very wide natural range, so far all the introductions have come from Chile but provenances in Argentina might provide even hardier trees that could succeed in colder areas of the country[1]. Plants succeed outdoors in S. England and have produced self-sown seedlings at Lanarth in Cornwall[1]. Large mature trees are growing in woodland conditions at Hilliers Arboretum in Hampshire[K]. The flowers are usually either male or female, though both sexes are found on the same plant[6]. Occasional hermaphrodite flowers are produced[6]. Cattle are very strongly attracted to the leaves of this plant and will not touch other forage when this species is available[1]. A slow growing tree[5].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2

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