Azara

Azara
A genus of evergreen large shrubs to small trees that is native to temperate regions of South America. These attractive landscape plants are often grown in the Pacific Northwest, the British Isles and western France.
They prefer deep, fertile, humus-rich soils with most species preferring a maritime climate with mild winters and summers that are humid but not extremely hot. Propagation is from seed or semi-ripe cuttings taken during summer.

Azara dentata ( Toothed Azara )
An evergreen small tree, reaching a maximum size of 33 x 33 feet, that is native to southern Chile. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 4 ( rarely over 2 ) feet.
The toothed leaves, up to 1.5 x 0.7 inches in size, are glossy deep green.
The golden-yellow flowers are followed by showy, small, yellow fruits.
Hardy zones 8 to 10.

Azara integrifolia ( Golden Spire Azara )
An evergreen small tree, reaching a maximum size of 40 x 20 feet with a trunk diameter of 1 foot, that is native to southern Chile. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 2 feet.
The smooth-edged, rounded leaves, up to 2.2 x 1.5 inches in size, are downy at first, turning glossy deep green.
The abundant, showy, yellow flowers are borne during spring.
They are followed by showy black fruits.
Hardy zones 8 to 10.

'Variegata'
Foliage is boldly-margined in yellow which turns to pink during winter.

Azara lanceolata ( Lanceleaf Azara )
An evergreen small tree, reaching a maximum size of 25 x 20 feet, that is native to southern Chile and Argentina. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 2 feet.
The toothed, lance-shaped leaves, up to 3 x 0.7 inches in size, are glossy deep green.
The abundant, showy, yellow flowers are borne during mid-spring.
They are followed by showy, small, bright purple fruits.
Hardy zones 8 to 10.

Azara microphylla ( Boxleaf Azara )
A very fast growing, small tree, reaching around 25 feet, that is native to southern Chile and Argentina. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 3 feet; 5 years - 7 feet; 10 years - 25 x 12 feet; largest on record - 45 x 27 feet with a trunk diameter of 1.7 inches. One of the largest on record grows in Ireland. It is long-lived, up to 100 years or more.
The toothed, obovate leaves, up to 1.5 ( usually half or less ) inches in length, are very glossy, very deep green. The leaves are borne on ferny frond-like sprays.
The fragrant, dull deep yellow flowers are borne in small clusters during early spring.
They are followed by orange-red berries during late summer into early autumn.
The gray bark has horizontal lenticels, becoming flaky with age.
Hardy zones 8 to 9 ( tolerating 5 F ) in sun or shade on fertile, well drained soil. Very shade tolerant. In the British Isles, it should be grown on a protected site such as along a warm south facing wall.

* historical archive photo

'Cold Hardy Form'
More upright, reaching up to 20 x 6 feet in 10 years.
Hardy north to zone 7 ( tolerating 0 F ).

'Variegata'
Slower growing, reaching up to 14 x 6 feet in 10 years; eventually reaching a maximum height of 34 x 10 ( rarely over 20 ) feet.
The very attractive foliage is boldly edged in golden-yellow.
It is slightly less hardy, tolerating 10 F with partial leaf drop at 15 F.

Azara petiolaris ( Holly Azara )
A moderate growing, evergreen shrub to small tree, reaching a maximum size of 20 x 12 feet that is native to Chile. Some records include: fastest growth rate -2 feet.
The toothed, obovate or rounded leaves, up to 3 x 2 ( rarely over 1.5 x 1.5 ) inches in size, are glossy bright green.
The fragrant, showy, bright yellow flowers are borne in dense clusters during to mid-spring.
The rounded fruits are glossy and black.
Hardy zones 8 to 10 in full sun to partial shade.

Azara serrata ( Sawtooth Azara )
An upright, evergreen small tree, reaching a maximum size of 33 x 33 feet, that is native to southern Chile. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 2 feet.
The sharply-toothed, oblong leaves, up to 3 x 1.3 ( rarely over 2.3 ) inches in size, are glossy deep green.
The abundant, showy, bright golden-yellow flowers are borne on dense, rounded clusters during late spring.
They are followed by showy black fruits.
Hardy zones 8 to 10 in full sun to partial shade.

'Andean Gold'
A very fast growing, small tree, reaching up to 15 feet in 10 years.
Hardy zones 7 to 10

Azara uruguayensis ( Uruguay Azara )
A large, evergreen shrub, reaching up to 12 feet in height, that is native to Uruguay, southern Brazil and Argentina.
The smooth-edged leaves, up to 3.5 x 2 inches in size, are bronze at first, turning to glossy deep green.
The fruits are blue.
Hardy zones 7 to 8b, it prefers hot humid summers unlike most other Azaras and is therefore not hardy in most of England.