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Ugni molinae - Turcz.

Uñi

Author	Turcz.	Botanical references	11, 200
Family	Myrtaceae	Genus	Ugni
Synonyms	Eugenia ugni - (Molina.)Hook.f. Myrtus ugni - Molina.
Known Hazards	None known
Range	S. America - Chile.
Habitat	Woodland edges and scrub[11, 184].
Edibility Rating	5 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	0 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen Shrub growing to 2m by 1m at a medium rate.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Sunny Edge; Hedge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit.

Edible Uses: Coffee; Tea.

Fruit - raw or cooked[2, 3]. An absolutely delicious flavour, it is very aromatic and tastes of wild strawberries[11, 15, K]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[196] and is freely borne even on small plants[K]. Leaves are a tea substitute[177, 183]. The roasted seeds are a coffee substitute[183].

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

Hedge.

Tolerant of trimming, it can be grown as a small hedge in the milder parts of Britain[11].

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any reasonably good soil including[1] dry ones. Prefers a moderately fertile well-drained loam in a sunny position[11, 200]. Fairly tolerant of maritime exposure[K]. Established plants are drought resistant[196]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is only hardy in the milder parts of Britain[3], tolerating temperatures down to about -10°c when fully dormant[184]. The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. Plants grow and fruit very well in Cornwall, indeed, in the past it has been cultivated commercially for its fruit there[11, 59] (it was one of Queen Victoria's favourite fruits), but is now normally only grown as an ornamental plant. This is a much underused plant that highly merits cultivation on a commercial scale for its fruit[K]. Flowers and fruits well even when the plants are young[11, 166]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow it in late winter in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle 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[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up in the autumn and overwinter in a cold frame. Plant out in late spring. High percentage[78]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, 7 - 12cm with a heel, November in a shaded and frost free frame. Plant out in late spring or early autumn. High percentage[78]. Layering.

Links

This plant is also mentioned in the following PFAF articles: The Woodland Edge Garden.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[3] Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7
A very readable book with information on about 100 species that can be grown in Britain (some in greenhouses) and details on how to grow and use them.

[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.

[15] Bryan. J. and Castle. C. Edible Ornamental Garden. Pitman Publishing 1976 ISBN 0-273-00098-5
A small book with interesting ideas for edible plants in the ornamental garden.

[59] Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall. 0
Trees and shrubs that succeed in Cornwall based on the authors own observations. Good but rather dated.

[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.

[166] Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990
A good book on plants that you didn't know could be grown outdoors in Britain.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[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.

[196] Popenoe. H. et al Lost Crops of the Incas National Academy Press 1990 ISBN 0-309-04264-X
An excellent book. Very readable, with lots of information and good pictures of some lesser known food plants of S. America.

[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.

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.

Myrtus Ugni

Bernhard Jenni Fri Aug 24 07:43:34 2001

From bjenni@ozemail.com.au I have at present organised 22,000 plants to ground. Some of these are now 2years old,and already Fruiting superbly. have made jam/muffins/cheese/ice cream etc etc from the fruit.

Myrtus Ugni

A. Wigmore Wed Jan 23 09:05:02 2002

I have had two plants for some three years, one in a vegetable bed, one in poorish soil in the front garden. One was fruiting when I bought it, never has done since. The other was rather bigger when I bought it and has never fruited. The fruit were delicious, but how to get them to give me some more?

Myrtus Ugni

Peter Willis Sun Feb 9 03:46:57 2003

Would like to know more about where one can purchase plants in Australia, costs and if the plants would prosper in Queensland Australia

Ugni molinae

Margaret Notton Sat Oct 16 19:49:07 2004

Could not find any useful information on Ugni molinae on RHS site. I bought a plant at Ludlow Farmers Market and hope to plant it outside at our garden in north Reading. In view of your comments about frost hardiness I shall take cutting as a safeguard and also try some seeds, having had success with myrtle seeds previously. Thanks for your advice. Margaret Notton

Ugni molinae

Giancarlo Bucchi Sat Dec 10 2005

Thank you for the information provided on Ugni Molinae. We live and have a farm in southern Chile. Ugni Molinae is originally from here. We are thinking of starting a small commercial plantation of this plant (called Murta or Murtilla here). The fruit and leaves have many properties, nutritionally and from the health and cosmetic points of view. Chilean goverment experimental farms are doing a lot of research on this plant and its potential use as a commercial crop, and also its potential to sustain different types of cottage industries. It was interesting to learn from your website that it was queen Victoria's favotite fruit. My name is Giancarlo Bucchi, we live in the Araucanía Region of Chile, and my email is giancarlo.bucchi@gmail.com

murtilla - Chilean guava Chilean Govt. Experimental farm proyect on Ugni Molinae Turcz.

Ugni molinae

carlos inostroza Mon Dec 26 2005

Mi nombre es carlos inostroza,region de la araucania. carahue, de chile. Visite mi pagina www.murtilla.cl

Ugni molinae

H. Gockowiak Wed Feb 22 2006

I have had the same unfruitful experience as A. Wigmore. The plant has been in a pot for 4 years, flowers freely but then drops all the blossoms without the development of a single fruit. Any suggestions???

Ugni molinae

wayne callanan Wed Mar 22 2006

this information has very helpful to myself as a pending grower.

Ugni molinae

Judi Sat Mar 25 2006

Absolutely delicious fruit and very easy to grow. Pretty plant, pretty flowers too. Delicious in porridge and on cereal.

Ugni molinae

tanya Tue Jun 6 2006

Is this plant also known as Checken? This is a quote from A Modern Herbal by Mrs M Grieve FRHS, first published by Johnothan Cape in 1931. "Eugenia Checken (Mol) N.O. Myrtaceae... Medicinal Action and Uses: Most useful in the chronic bronchitis of elderly people and in chronic catarrh of the respiratory organs. Dose: Fluid extract, 1 to 2 fluid drachms." Not sure how much a Fellow of the Royal Horticultural Society of GB would know about the medicinal uses of plants from Chile, but you never know. By the way are there any regions in Chile with very alkaline soil? We live on a chalk cliff by the sea. Would Ugni Molinae be a good bet to grow here?

Ugni molinae

Rosario Mon Dec 18 2006

The origin of Chilean guava is CHILE! in South America, and Australia patented the plant as their with the name of tazziberry!!, so chileans would have to pay royalties?? INJUSTICE!!

Ugni molinae

Giancarlo Bucchi Mon Feb 5 2007

Tanya: No, it's not the same. I looked it up on the Internet: Chequen (Mol.) is a tree that grows up to 45 ft high. I'm sure there are parts of Chile that have alkaline soil, however, the part where we live (coastal Araucania) is mostly acid. By the way, Ugni Molinae around here does well in semi-shaded spots, but also survives in full sunlight. We have a few hundred Ugni Molinae plants, and would be willing to ship them to the UK or elsewhere, but I suspect there are sanitary regulations that will have to be considered. Any ideas on that? Thanks

Ugni molinae

Mark Garnsey Thu Jun 14 2007

Ugni molinae (Tazziberry) is grown as a commercial crop in Tasmania and is starting to become popular in other states. Tazziberry Growers Ausralia Pty Ltd has just been formed and is updating, in July 2007, the Tazziberry website which will be helpful to future readers. Currently we are taking orders for plants and looking for potential growers. For enquiries contact us at markgarnsey@yahoo.com.au

Tazziberry New industry in Australia for this superb fruit

Ugni molinae

Mal and shona Sun Mar 23 2008

We planted one of these recently. It had a few berries on it which were lovely. Next crop we will try them in a salad.

Ugni molinae

Mark Garnsey Mon Mar 24 2008

Ugni molinae (Tazziberry) has just begun its season in Tasmania. Usually demand is greater than our product yield. We welcome our new growers and look forward to their participation in our industry. Further information is on our website, tazziberry.com.au. For enquiries contact us at markgarnsey@yahoo.com.au

Tazziberry Tazziberry Growers Australia formed in 2007 are succesfully growing these berries as a commercial venture with the blessing of our counterparts in Chile who visited our farms in 2007 to learn how we were operating.

Ugni molinae

Giancarlo Bucchi Tue Mar 25 2008

I seem to remember reading somewhere that Charles Darwin took some Ugni Molinae plants back to England, when he visited Chile in the XIX century. Can anyone help me out to conform or deny this information? Thanks in acvance. Giancarlo Bucchi Carahue, Chile

Ugni molinae

Giancarlo Bucchi Tue Mar 25 2008

Hi. I wonder if someone could help me confirm whether it was Charles Darwin who introduced Ugni Molinae to England, having taken some plants or seeds from southern Chile during his round-the-world trip?

Ugni molinae

Fri Feb 6 2009

According to my books Myrtus ugni as it was then named was introduced to Great Britain in 1844 by W, Lobb, a plant collector This would be about 5 years after Darwin returned from S America,

Ugni molinae

Paulina D Thu Apr 16 2009

Hola es posible adquirir un estudio de mercado de la murta????, es para mi tesis, muchas gracias!

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