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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Myrtaceae (Myrtles) |
| Origin: Chile (South America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: White |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Height: 6-8 feet |
| Width: 6-8 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 10-15° F |
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Luma apiculata (Chilean Myrtle)- A fast-growing evergreen shrub/small tree that in cultivation typically is seen to about 8 feet tall and nearly as wide but in its natural habitat can be a tree to 30+ feet. It has small, dark glossy green oval to rounded aromatic leaves that have a pointed tip and densely cover the branches. In old age it exposes the smooth cinnamon-colored bark. The small four-petaled white to pinkish-white flowers are followed by small bluish-black berries which is its native land were eaten and used in medicine. Plant in full sun and well-draining soil with regular to occasional irrigation. Once established it is fairly drought and frost tolerant and considered hardy to 10-15 ° F and useful in gardens in USDA Zones 8a and above. A very nice plant that is best suited in cooler bay area gardens than in Southern California. This plant comes from the forests of Chile and western Argentina. The name for the genus comes from Marpuche (the indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina) and describes the orange color after the bark of this plant. The specific epithet means pointed, describing the leaf tips. It is also commonly called Orange-Bark Myrtle, Soap-Bark Tree and in Chile by the indigenous name "Temu". We grew this plant at our nursery from 1990 to 1995.
This information about Luma apiculata displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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