Azara

( az- ZAR - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of evergreen shrubs and small trees includes species which generally need partial shade and regular water to perform well in the landscape. They are native to lakesides and wooded areas in Chile and Argentina. Attractive fuzzy yellow flowers that smell of chocolate or vanilla are followed by small berries. Use these trees and shrubs as specimens in the landscape, at the backs of beds and borders, to provide evergreen foliage to cover walls and outdoor appliances, or as privacy screening.

Azara Species and Varietals

The genus Azara includes 10 species of shrubs and trees in the family Salicaceae. The genus honors Spanish naturalist Felix de Azara, who spent time during the 1700s doing research in South America. These plants have been in cultivation in North America since around 1861, and sold in nurseries since 1895. The best growing zones for Azara vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Azara dentata (Toothed Azara, Fragrant Toothed Azara, Aroma de Castilla)
This species grows well in UDA hardiness zones 8-11 or in Sunset growing zones 6 and 15-17. These shrubs or small trees reach up to 15 feet tall and 12 feet wide when mature, and produce shiny rounded green leaves. Toothed Azara makes a great screening plant, blooming in the springtime tolerating a good amount of shade.

Azara lanceolata (Lanceleaf Azara, Narrow-Leaf Azara, Aromo)
Grows well in USDA hardiness zones 7b-10b or Sunset growing zones 5, and 15-17. This plant has a large, arching habit and grows to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Bright yellow-green large leaves produce a bushy, lush effect. Yellow blooms are present in the springtime.

Azara microphylla (Boxleaf Azara, Chinchin, Littleleaf Azara, Chilean Box Leaf)
Grows in USDA hardiness zones 8-10 or Sunset growing zones 5-9 and 14-24, and is a fast grower once established. Can reach about 12-18 feet tall and 8-12 feet wide as a shrub and up to 30 feet tall as a mature tree. Leaves are shiny, round and dark green. Can be trained as an espalier easily, as it has a flat-branching habit. Blooms appear in late winter into early spring. 'Variegata' has leaves edged in a creamy white.

Azara petiolaris (Holly Azara, Maqui Blanco, Maquicillo, Lilen, Corcolén)
This is a shrubby variety that reaches up to 15-20 feet tall and 12 feet wide, and is easily trimmed to form a single-stemmed tree. Lustrous, deep green leaves resemble Holly, and hang from branches like aspen leaves. Blooms appear in late winter. Grows well in USDA hardiness zones 8a-10b or Sunset growing zones 15-17.

caring for Azara

Azara plants are typically purchased as specimens from a reputable nursery. When grown from seed, they will take two to three years to reach their mature size, putting on about 1-2 feet each year in ideal conditions. Azara trees and shrubs enjoy partial shade and protection from strong winds, especially when they are young. They should be getting around 6 hours of sun each day for best blooms and overall growth rate, but do appreciate some afternoon shade, especially in warmer climates. Azaras will require more water the more sun they get. They prefer well-draining, sandy soil with a pH of between 5.0 and 7.0 (acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants perform well in consistently moist soils. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches feels dry to the touch.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These shrubs need very little pruning to maintain their habit. If they do need to be pruned in order to remove dead or dying growth, errant branches, or for any other reason, the best time is in late winter or early springtime after flowering has finished. To create a small tree out of an Azara shrub, begin pruning off lower branches when the tree is still young, taking care to not remove more than a third of the plant at any one time. It is best to let young plants establish themselves in the landscape before attempting a pruning like this. Azara shrubs are considered long-lived perennials in the garden, lasting for upwards of 50 years before needing to be replaced if cared for properly.

Propagation

The best way to propagate Azara plants is through taking cuttings in summertime, though these plants can also be propagated via seeds. To propagate your plant, follow the instructions outlined below.

Propagating Azara by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining potting material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In the middle of summertime, before the plant has had time to completely harden its current season's growth, choose your plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Azara are best propagated via a semi-hardwood cutting, meaning that you'll want to choose a branch that has both green, soft new growth and some hardened wood on it. Cut one or more 4-6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip off most of the lower leaves, leaving the top two on the cutting. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in cool, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagated Azara, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home, either outdoors or inside as a house plant. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.

Propagating Azara by Seed

Keep in mind that the Azara plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant, especially if it is a hybrid variety. The best way to start Azara seed is indoors at the end of winter. To propagate by seed, you will need a pot or tray filled with well-draining potting soil, a spray bottle and a fork. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows, and additional pots as the seedlings increase in size. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds at the end of springtime. When Azara flowers are spent and your plant has been pollinated (which can either happen naturally through insect and animal activity, or helped along by a handy-dandy Q-tip) you will notice seed pods begin to form. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Harvest as many as you can, and store them in a cool, dark, dry place until you are ready to sow. Harvest as many as you can, as they will probably not all germinate, and the ones that do will be of varying characteristics, especially with hybrid-variety seeds. The more seeds you plant, the more chances you will have to get the resulting plant you want.
Towards the end of the following winter, place your seeds in a container or seed tray filled with potting soil. Barely cover the seeds with soil (about 3/4 inch down) and keep the soil moist but not wet by spraying it with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area (one that stays around 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit) that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 1-3 months from sowing (though it can take as much as 18 months). Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots filled with potting soil. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home.