Azara lanceolata

$10 (smaller plant) $18 (1 gallon)

From the woodlands of Chile (a region whose flora contains only cool plants, as we all know) comes this large open, vase-shaped small tree to about 15' tall and wide. Its evergreen, fine textured, slightly serrated leaves come in two sizes: small round ones and larger lanceolate ones, which is quite interesting. Yellow flowers that are larger than those of A. microphylla and more strongly vanilla-scented, cover the plant in April. In fact, the form I offer is such a profuse flowerer that it looks reminiscent of one of the showy Australian Acacias! It will appreciate moist soil and partial shade, and should be hardy to around 5 - 10°F.

Azara microphylla 'Variegata' - VARIEGATED BOXLEAF AZARA

$18 (1 gallon)

This very special tree has all the features of the usual Azara microphylla - including the delicate growth habit with small, round leaves, and vanilla scented flowers in late winter - and its leaves are variegated with white margins contrasting excellently with the dark green centers. Easily grown on any site in sun (not blasting hot) or part shade and well-drained soil. Although usually considered somewhat less vigorous and smaller growing than Azara microphylla, it can still achieve tree size surprisingly quickly with a lot of water and good soil. Hardy to 5 - 10°F.

Berberis darwinii - DARWIN BARBERRY NEW Spring 2010!

$9

Why does anyone plant ugly, boring barberries when they could plant this one? This evergreen species from Chile with rather thick, glossy leaves is one of the showiest in flower: in spring, it is covered in screaming orange bell shaped flowers! These are followed by little bluish fruits. Reasonably well behaved, it usually stays under 6' in gardens and can always be cut back hard if need be. Other than that, it's very easy to grow in sun or shade on most any soil. Watch out for those spines! This is the plant Darwin was named after - who would have thought? Hardy to about 5°F.

Buddleja globosa NEW Spring 2010!

$10

This species from Chile is the most southerly occurring of the many fabulous South American Buddlejas, and therefore one of the hardiest and best adapted to the Northwest. Growing into a large shrub of 12' (occasionally 20'!) tall and wide, it has huge, soft leaves, and terminal panicles of yellow or orange-yellow flowers in late spring - quite a show! Like many Buddlejas, it has a semi-everrgreen habit, and its size can be kept in check by cutting it back hard in early spring. It appreciates full sun and tolerates moist or dry soil. Unlike B. davidii and some of its cultivars, it is not invasive in the Pacific Northwest. Hardy to about 12°F.

Crinodendron hookerianum - CHILEAN LANTERN TREE NEW Spring 2010!

$12

One of those enigmatic Chilean beauties that is gradually becoming a little more common in gardens, this plant represents a surprisingly cold tolerant and temperate species within a mostly tropical family of plants. Narrow, deep green evergreen leaves have appealing serration and pale center vein. The flowers, produced in mid-spring, appear as little bright red "lanterns" that don't open fully (how this leads to seed production I have yet to research). Planted where the evening sun can illuminate the "lanterns," the overall effect is exquisite! It will appreciate moist soil in sun to part shade, but is not appropriate for blasting all day sun and drought, or poor rocky soil. Usually shrubby and multi-stemmed in cultivation, it can eventually reach 10 - 15' tall. In the Seattle area it grows pretty well with plenty of water, but it is really happiest (and will grow much larger!) right on the immediate coast, where fog and rain are much more regular occurrences. Generally hardy to around 15°F, though I've seen it survive a little colder than that in some instances - and it never fails to return from the lower parts of the plant if the top is damaged by cold.

Crinodendron hookerianum [narrow leaf form] - CHILEAN LANTERN TREE NEW Spring 2010!

$12

This exceedingly rare variant has much narrower leaves than the more common form. Other features and care as for the regular form. I have the late Jim Gerdemann to thank for sharing this from his amazing plant collection.

Desofontainia spinosa

$20 (1 gallon)

This splendid evergreen shrub comes from the rainforests of Chile and also points farther north in the Andes. Well-behaved but not aggravatingly slow, it produces dense growth to an eventual 6' tall and wide, with holly like leaves and really cool tubular red and yellow flowers. (Can you say hummingbird magnet?) Like so many Chilean plants, it seems to be very well adapted in the Pacific Northwest, thriving on any reasonably well-drained soil and even tolerating a little drought. It is hardy to at least 10°F and perhaps lower.

Eucryphia cordifolia

$12

From Chile, this is one of the largest and perhaps the most magnificent Eucryphia species. It has rather leathery foliage, lustrous green above and paler beneath, and usually undivided. It starts out shrubby but eventually develops into a large tree to 50' or more in favorable climates. In late summer the tree is covered in large, white anemone flowers typical of the species and at least as prolific as the others. Although reputed to be one of the less hardy species, it has persisted in Seattle for many years. Hardy to at least 10 - 15°F.

Fuchsia campos-portoi

$7

A delicate little Fuchsia reminding one of F. magellanica, but smaller in stature, stopping at under 3' tall for me so far after many years in the garden. Little blooms of pink with purple (pretty standard for hardy Fuchsias) are produced from late spring until hard frost. If it's really happy it may colonize the garden spreading at the roots, but not to the point of being pesky. This is one of the most heat tolerant Fuchsias, as well as very hardy, and shows potential to adapt to east coast gardens. The top will die back around 22°F but it's root hardy to at least 0°F.

Fuchsia magellanica [small leaf form]

$7

Often considered as a perennial, but really more of a shrub, this popular species has attractive red stems and produces purple flowers with pink sepals all though the summer and fall. Native to Chilean rainforests and naturalized throughout the west coast of Scotland, it thrives in coolness and moisture, but it is actually very adaptable and will even withstand a certain amount of drought in equable climates. This very vigorous plant occurred as a chance seedling in my garden, and just keeps on going: when will it stop? 10'? 12'? We will see. Hardy to 0°F.

Fuchsia magellanica 'Ricartonii' NEW Spring 2010!

$7

This form of Fuchsia magellanica has more delicate, pointed, pale green leaves, with pink undertones rather than red, and wider internodes. The flowers are just as showy and it produces fruit that can be eaten if you run out of Luma apiculata berries. For me it is top hardy to about 22°F, but it always regrows from the base. Results from the Spokane area suggest that this and other forms of F. magellanica may have greater root hardiness than previously believed, perhaps to USDA zone 6 or even lower.

Fuchsia regia var. regia NEW Spring 2010!

$9

Big, vigorous, and easy... pretty much sums up this Fuchsia from the highlands of southeast Brazil. It has rather large, long leaves to 4" and the usual pink/purple tubular, hummingbird friendly flowers. Depending on the climate and culture it can grow as a freestanding shrub (easier in hot climates) or be allowed to scramble through other shrubs or trees to 15' long or more! Supplied with adequate moisture, it tolerates the heat of the mid-Atlantic states quite well for a Fuchsia. Top hardy to about 22°F... root hardy to perhaps 0°F.

Fuchsia regia var. serrae NEW Spring 2010!

$12

Big, vigorous, easy, and... silver? That's right, this Fuchsia has shiny silver-tinged leaves - talk about exciting color contrast potential! This form is very rare, but undeservedly so. I have my friends at the esteemed Cistus Nursery to thank for sharing this from their jaw-dropping plant collection. Other features and uses - and, hopefully, heat tolerance - as for Fuchsia regia var. regia.

Fuchsia sp. [Yachats, Oregon]

$7

This very hardy, vigorous and robust plant is of uncertain origin. Having large leaves and flowers, it really looks like one of the tender hanging basket Fuchsias, except that it doesn't, well, hang. The big flowers of typical Fuchsia form have pink sepals and purple petals, and are produced in generous quantities. Not only that, this plant is indestructible: the Fuchsia for those who kill Fuchsias. Still, like all Fuchsias it will perform best with lots of moisture and protection from blasting heat. Chop it back every once in a while or it may engulf your house. Hardy to at least 10°F. (Machete not included.)

Luma apiculata - PALO COLORADO (ORANGE-BARK MYRTLE)

$10

Formerly classified as Myrtus luma, this beautiful Chilean tree has numerous virtues. The glossy, evergreen foliage is attractive in all seasons; and in June, masses of soft white flowers cover the plant. These are followed by black edible fruits in autumn which are quite tasty! To me, however, the best feature is the bark: smooth, peeling, predominantly orange but showing a variety of colors at once, it will out-bark most any smooth-barked deciduous tree. I like it best in its natural growth form, where it is often multi-trunked, the trunks curving gracefully toward the crown in a somewhat rugged fashion; however, it can also be kept shrub-size by heavy pruning. It will tolerate sun or shade, and endures temperatures down to about 10°F.

Luma apiculata 'Glenleam Gold'

$18 (1 gallon)

With this slightly more compact and densely growing version of Luma apiculata, you get not only the masses of white summer flowers, tasty fruit, and smooth cinnamon bark, but also white-edged leaves that assume dark pink highlights in the sun. The plant that does it all? And better for smaller spaces than the species. Hardy to around 12 - 15°F, but will recover from lower temperatures.

Mitraria coccinea

$8

Ooh, it's a hardy gesneriad! If you don't know what that is, you should get one and find out! This plant, though attractive, looks rather innocuous at first, with its small, bright green evergreen leaves. As such, it provides no hint of the spectacle of surprisingly large, screaming red tubular flowers with yellow centers that it produces every year in early summer! A trailing subshrub, it will behave something like a small Fuchsia, though it tends to sprawl and take root as it goes. From temperate rainforests of Chile, it will appreciate moist, acidic, well-drained soil; and shelter from summer heat. It can be trained on a small fence, or, if your climate is wet enough, grow it as an epiphyte! At 15°F, it may be heavily damaged, but it recovers very quickly from temperatures to at least 10°F.

Myrceugenia ovata var. nanophylla NEW Spring 2010!

$12

Here's one of many wonderful Chilean members of the Myrtaceae family that deserves much more attention. I bought this as an impulse purchase from Heronswood a long time ago, but now it's become one of those things I'm really glad to have. I just like the look of it: it reminds me of a softer version of Luma apiculata. As a young plant it is very graceful with softly hairy leaves. In time it produces showy white flowers, which are followed by berries that sound rather exciting, as someone has recently passed along this description to us: "Its fruits are sweet and the aroma reminiscent of tangerine." The funny thing is, my big one in the ground has never flowered or fruited, but tiny cuttings of it are just flowering this year. Maybe it needs to be a little stressed, or in full sun, to fruit? As with many super-rare plants, we just don't know, but would love to find out. Culture and adaptability are probably about the same as Luma apiculata. No damage to an established plant from a prolonged freeze with a minimum of 12°F - below that, we don't know what happens yet.

Rhaphithamnus spinosus

$14 (smaller plant) $20 (1 gallon)

This shrubby member of the Verbena family from Chile, Argentina and Peru has much to offer, including glossy evergreen leaves and showy tubular lilac flowers, followed by attractive purple fruit! Its stems are armed with spines to deter grazing animals. It may reach 15' tall in the wild but I would plan on perhaps an eventual 4 - 6' in gardens. It adapts to a wide range of habitats in the wild from rainforest to somewhat drier areas. Our plants originating in Chile should be hardy to around 5°F. Too cool!

Ugni molinae - CHILEAN GUAVA NEW Spring 2010!

$10

This evergreen shrub belonging to the Myrtaceae family occurs across much of central and southern Chile, where it is quite common in some areas. Although thicket-forming in the wild, it is quite well-behaved in cultivation, forming an appealing 3' x 3' shrub in sun or partial shade. Its virtues include bronzy-red new growth, "cute" flowers and edible dark fruits that can be eaten raw or used in jams and such. Hardiness varies from about 10 - 15°F: good drainage seems to make a difference.

Ugni? sp. aff. molinae - MYSTERY MYRTLE NEW Spring 2010!

$20 (1 gallon)

Another intriguing plant shared by the late Jim Gerdemann - he couldn't remember exactly what this was or where he got it. All the more reason to take cuttings of it, I thought! In his garden it was a small, open, 12' tree, and reminded me of some of the other Chilean Myrtaceae like Luma or Amomyrtus. I think my guess as to its affinities may be correct; however, its growth habit for me so far is decidedly shrubby, and it may be that it was only treelike in the Gerdemann Garden because of their magical perfect climate. In fact, it is behaving a lot like Ugni molinae, though its leaves are rounder and less bronzy than the usual form of U. molinae I've seen in cultivation. It is also more apt to sucker from the base, another characteristic of U. molinae. So, it may be a different and rather interesting clone of U. molinae, or something else altogether! It hasn't flowered for me yet. If it's U. molinae, it ought to have edible fruit, and it may, even if it's not. So far, it's hardy to at least 15°F.

Vestia foetida NEW Spring 2010!

$9

Tomatoes, anyone? Well, not quite. But at least it actually likes our climate. This odd member of the Solanaceae family from Chile has yellow flowers that are followed by little round tomato-ish fruits (these eventually dry out into little capsules). I wouldn't eat them since they might be toxic. But the flowers are cool, and quite showy! Even more interestingly, this plant smells bad when you rub against it. So it needs just the right spot. We warned you. Evergreen, to 8' tall, and very vigorous and easy to grow in moist soil. Hardy to 10 - 15°F.

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