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Azara microphylla - Hook.f.

Author	Hook.f.	Botanical references	11, 200
Family	Flacourtiaceae	Genus	Azara
Synonyms
Known Hazards	None known
Range	S. America - Chile and S. Argentina.
Habitat	Lakesides and along the edges of Nothofagus forests[200].
Edibility Rating	1 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	0 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen Shrub growing to 6m by 5m at a slow rate.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Secondary; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit.

Fruit[123]. No further details are given. The fruit is very small, about 3mm in diameter according to one report[200] and about 5mm according to another[219].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

Other Uses

None known

Scented Plants

Flowers: Fresh

The flowers are sweetly fragrant and vanilla scented.

Cultivation details

Prefers a position in sun or light shade in a deep humus rich soil[200], but succeeds in ordinary garden soil[134]. Succeeds in almost any soil so long as it is not very wet or very dry[202]. Flowers better in a warm sheltered position[200]. Plants are subject to windburn if they are not in a sheltered position[200]. This species is generally hardy in the open in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -15°c[184], though young plants are less hardy[219]. The new growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts[202]. Cultivated for its edible fruit in Chile[123]. The flowers are sweetly fragrant and vanilla scented[184, 245].

Propagation

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[134]. It usually germinates within 1 - 3 months at 15°c, though it can take 18 months[134]. 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[202]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 7 - 10cm with a heel, November in a cold frame[78]. Takes 12 months[78]. Layering in spring. Takes 6 - 9 months[78].

Links

References

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[123] ? Encyclopaedia Britannica. 15th edition. 0
It contains a few things of interest to the plant project.

[134] Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.

[184] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1900 species and cultivars.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[202] Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990 ISBN 0-670-82929-3
Contains information on 2,000 species and cultivars, giving details of cultivation requirements. The text is terse but informative.

[219] Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers Comments

Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments, use at your own risk. In particular Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.

Azara microphylla

Mon Aug 25 2008

I doubt it is edible. It is very bitter. Chileflora.

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