Credit: David Foley
Luma apiculata
Background and story
The Chilean Myrtle (Luma apiculata) is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to southern Chile and Argentina, where it grows in moist temperate forests and along river margins.
It has long been admired for its beautiful, smooth bark, which peels to reveal rich cinnamon, orange and cream tones beneath, along with its small, glossy leaves and delicate white summer flowers.
Sometimes known as the “arrayán,” it has cultural significance in its native range and is often associated with striking natural woodland stands, particularly in southern Chile.
Did you know?
It can live for centuries in the wild. In protected forests in Argentina, individual trees have been recorded at up to 600–650 years old, forming dense, almost pure stands known as arrayán forests.
Hardiness and conservation
The recorded RHS hardiness rating is H4, which means this plant is usually hardy through most typical UK and Irish winter conditions, although exposed or wet sites can still cause losses. The recorded USDA/PFAF hardiness value is 8-11, which is useful as a broad winter-temperature guide, but it should not be read as a direct substitute for the RHS rating. Local hardiness always depends on local shelter, drainage, winter wet, salt-laden wind and the plant’s age and establishment.
The IUCN Red List status recorded here is Least Concern (LC). This means it has been assessed as being at relatively low risk of extinction in the wild. The assessment year recorded in the plant data is 2018.
Additional notes for Ireland and Britain
In Ireland and Britain, Luma apiculata is well suited to mild, sheltered coastal gardens, where it thrives in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soils. It can be grown as a large shrub or small tree, typically reaching 4–8 metres or more, with a dense, rounded habit. It tolerates wind and salt-laden air reasonably well, making it a good choice for maritime settings, though it benefits from protection from severe frost and cold winds. It is often used as a feature plant or informal evergreen screening, where its bark and structure can be fully appreciated year-round.
From a conservation and hardiness perspective, Luma apiculata is not considered threatened, with a broad distribution across southern South America and continued presence in natural habitats. In terms of hardiness, it tolerates light to moderate frost (typically around −5°C to −8°C in sheltered conditions), though young plants or soft growth may be damaged in colder winters. Its main limitation in Irish conditions is exposure and severe frost rather than moisture, provided drainage is good. In an Irish context, it is a reliable and characterful evergreen, particularly effective in coastal gardens where its bark, foliage, and form combine to strong ornamental effect.
Notable features
- Its bark is one of the most distinctive of any tree. The trunk peels in thin sheets to reveal smooth cinnamon, orange, and cream tones beneath, creating a striking, almost polished appearance often described as “cold” to the touch. The continuous peeling also stops ivy attaching itself to the trunk.
- It has edible fruit with local culinary uses. The small dark berries are edible and sometimes used for jams, sauces, or drinks, particularly in Chile and Argentina where the tree is culturally significant.
- Its leaves are aromatic and traditionally medicinal. When crushed, the leaves release a spicy fragrance, and they have been used in traditional medicine for antiseptic and respiratory treatments.
- It thrives in unusually wet woodland conditions. In its native range it often grows along streams and lakes in cool temperate rainforest, tolerating constant moisture far better than most evergreen ornamentals.
Earlscliffe notes
Like many other garden owners, David and Muriel Robinson undertook a millennium project in 1999. During the year they planted up a small woodland of 100 Luma apiculata (Chilean Myrtle), one plant for each decade of the last 1,000 years, the last specimen being planted alongside Fiacre's Fell at dusk on December 31 1999. This tree, with its beautiful cinnamon-coloured bark, grows as happily on the Howth peninsula as it does in its native Chile and Argentina and the plants for the new woodland were all self sown seedlings dug up from various parts of the garden.