Drimys: planting, growing, and maintaining

Botany

Drimys includes 7 species of evergreen trees and bushes, primarily native to the montane forests of Oceania, Southeast Asia, as well as Central and South America. The greatest diversity is observed in New Guinea. Some species are epiphytic, growing directly on other plants, such as tree trunks. In cultivation, the main species found are Drimys winteri, native to South America (Chile, Argentina), and Drimys aromatica, which comes from Australia.

The Drimys belongs to the botanical family Winteraceae. This family also includes Pseudowintera, Tasmannia (known as Tasmanian Pepper), as well as other lesser-known trees and bushes in France, originating from the Southern Hemisphere (Oceania, South and Central America).

Drimys winteri: Botanical illustration

The name Drimys comes from Greek and means “pungent” or “spicy”, referring to the flavour of its bark, which can be consumed as an infusion and was once used as a condiment (once ground into powder). The Drimys aromatica owes its species name to its aromatic berries and foliage. Drimys winteri was named in honour of Captain John Winter, who, in the 16^th century, undertook an expedition to Patagonia with Sir Francis Drake. He brought back samples of the bark of this shrub to England, which he likely used during the voyage to cure crew members suffering from scurvy.

In English, Drimys is nicknamed Mountain pepper due to the aromatic qualities of its berries and its montane origin. In French, it is referred to as Tasmanian Pepper or Magellan Cinnamon. Its bark, once ground into powder, has been used as a substitute for pepper in Argentina and Chile. It is particularly rich in vitamin C.

Drimys has the advantage of being dense and bushy, making it an ideal shrub for a privacy hedge. It can reach a maximum height of up to 3 m, or even 4 m in cultivation. However, in its natural habitat, Drimys winteri can grow much larger, reaching up to 10 metres tall. If you prefer a shrub with a more compact and rounded habit, consider Pseudowintera colorata, a cousin of Drimys (sometimes referred to as Drimys colorata) with attractive coloured foliage, particularly suited for small city gardens.

It takes several years for Drimys to start flowering: flowering occurs only on plants that are at least 5 years old. They bloom at the end of spring, usually in May-June, and produce lovely pink floral buds at the tips of their branches, which then open to reveal small star-shaped flowers. These are grouped in clusters of five to twenty flowers, measuring 1 to 3 cm in diameter. The flowers of Drimys aromatica are cream-white to pale yellow, while those of Drimys winteri are white and larger, with more developed petals. The flowers of Drimys have a pleasant fragrance reminiscent of jasmine.

The Drimys aromatica is dioecious: each shrub bears either only male flowers (with stamens) or only female flowers (with a pistil), while Drimys winteri is hermaphroditic (each shrub bears flowers that are both male and female).

Drimys has entire, lanceolate or elliptical leaves, thick, and alternately inserted on the stems (one leaf after another). They are evergreen, thus remaining decorative even in winter. They have a beautiful dark green glossy colour, which in Drimys aromatica contrasts nicely with the bright red stems! The underside of the leaves is light green to whitish and matte.

The red stems and glossy green leaves of Drimys aromatica (photos: Adobe Stock / Megan Hansen)

The leaves of Drimys aromatica measure 4 to 8 cm long; those of D. winteri are much larger, reaching up to 20 cm long. Their leaves are equipped with glands containing essential oils: they therefore release a characteristic scent when crushed, reminiscent of cinnamon.

There is a variety with variegated yellow foliage: Drimys lanceolata ‘Suzette’. This creates a beautiful multicoloured effect, between the red of the stems and the green and yellow of the leaves. However, this variety is quite rare in cultivation.

After flowering (only on female plants, when they have been fertilised, for D. aromatica), Drimys produces small round black berries, measuring 5 to 8 mm in diameter. They are appreciated by birds. The berries are known for their aromatic properties and have been used as a substitute for pepper. They have a sweet taste at first, followed by a peppery flavour that lingers in the mouth.

The bark of Drimys winteri, on the other hand, has been used in Argentina and Chile by local populations, particularly for its anti-inflammatory, diuretic, stimulating, and anti-scurvy properties (due to its vitamin C content).

The flowers of Drimys winteri and the berries of Drimys aromatica (photos: Eric Hunt / Doug Beckers)

The main species and varieties

The most popular varieties

Other varieties to discover

Drimys aromatica

This is an evergreen and bushy bush, with dark green leaves beautifully highlighted by the red stems that bear them. It is also known as Drimys lanceolata and Tasmannia aromatica (synonyms).

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

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Drimys aromatica Red Spice

This lovely variety stands out from the type species due to its more compact habit and slightly darker foliage. It also features beautiful red stems.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 2 m

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Pseudowintera colorata

This cousin of Drimys is distinguished by its more compact and rounded habit, as well as its very colourful foliage, which gradually becomes covered in red spots! It is a true botanical curiosity, rarely found in cultivation.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 1,50 m

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Pseudowintera colorata Red Leopard

This small bush has even more colourful foliage than the type species. Its leaves are beautifully speckled with red on a cream background, with a hue that evolves throughout the seasons. It is particularly suited for small gardens and pot cultivation.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 80 cm

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Planting

Where to plant?

Drimys thrives in humus-bearing, slightly acidic soil that remains relatively cool (especially in the first few years), without excess moisture. It does not like calcareous soils but accepts clayey or loamy substrates.

Drimys tolerates both sun and partial shade. Choose a location sheltered from strong winds, as they may become more susceptible to cold or drought.

Drimys cannot withstand very cool temperatures, around –10 °C, or even –8 °C. They are particularly suited to the Atlantic coast, especially the mild and humid climate of the Breton and Norman shores.

With their dense and bushy foliage, they will make a beautiful backdrop for a perennial bed, but they are also suitable for creating an effective privacy hedge, both in summer and winter. They can also be planted as solitary specimens and will even tolerate being grown in a large pot, but care must be taken with watering! In pots, the substrate dries out more quickly than in the ground.

When to plant?

We recommend planting Drimys in spring, around May, once the soil has warmed sufficiently and there is no longer a risk of frost. In very mild climates, it is also possible to plant in autumn.

How to plant?

1. Start by soaking the pot in a basin of water to rehydrate the root ball.
2. Dig a planting hole about three times the size of the root ball.
3. Replace it with soil mixed with well-decomposed compost. You may optionally add a bit of coarse sand to improve drainage.
4. Remove the Drimys from its pot and place it in the centre.
5. Fill the hole with soil.
6. Firm it down to ensure good contact between the substrate and the roots.
7. Water generously.

Continue to water regularly during the first few months.

Drimys aromatica

Entretien

As Drimys does not like chalky soil, it is preferable to water it with rainwater rather than tap water, which may be too chalky for it. Young Drimys plants must not lack water: be vigilant during the first few years. Once well established, they will cope more easily with short periods of drought.

In spring, carry out light pruning to remove dead wood, damaged or poorly positioned branches, and possibly to give the bush a more harmonious shape. We recommend wearing gloves as the sap of Drimys is irritating. You can also add a layer of well-decomposed compost or manure around its base to enrich the soil.

Drimys has the advantage of being resistant to diseases and pests. Aside from these few precautions, they are low-maintenance bushes that require little attention.

Multiplication

Sowing

Be aware that Drimys aromatica is dioecious: to have viable seeds, you need at least one male plant and one female plant. It is the female plants that will bear the seeds.

Sowing should be done in autumn, preferably with fresh seeds, as Drimys seeds do not store well and lose their seed viability over time.

1. Prepare a pot or seed tray with seed compost, which has the advantage of being light, fine, and well-draining.
2. Lightly firm and level the surface.
3. Distribute the seeds evenly on the surface of the compost.
4. Cover them with a thin layer of compost.
5. Water gently.
6. Place the pot in a cold frame, in a bright location.

In spring, you can transplant the seedlings into individual pots to give them more space to develop. You will need to wait two or three years before planting them in the garden.

Propagation by Cuttings

It is possible to take semi-lignified stem cuttings in summer (July-August). However, Drimys cuttings are slow to root, and the success rate is generally around 60%. Therefore, we recommend taking several cuttings at the same time to increase your chances of success.

1. Take a shoot from your Drimys that is one year old (soft at the tip and slightly lignified at the base), 10 to 15 cm long. Ideally, take it with a heel (the base of the shoot from which it grows).
2. If you see leaves on the lower part of the stem, remove them, leaving only two or three at the top of the cutting.
3. Fill a pot with a light substrate, then water it.
4. Dip the base of the stem in plant hormone.
5. Make a hole in the substrate, for example with a pencil, then insert the cutting.
6. Firm the substrate around it to ensure good contact with the substrate.
7. Place the pot in a sheltered location, in a bright spot but out of direct sunlight.
8. We recommend covering the cutting by placing a plastic bag or a plastic bottle over the pot to create a humid atmosphere. However, be careful that the plant does not touch the sides. You should also remember to ventilate regularly to avoid the risk of rot.

Association

You can pair Drimys with other evergreen bushes to create a hedge. Choose bushes with dense foliage, such as Elaeagnus ebbingei, laurustinus, photinias, thujas, Ligustrum japonicum… You will achieve a beautiful privacy screen that effectively shields you from prying eyes all year round! For more ideas, check out our selection of evergreen hedge shrubs.

Drimys will pair very well with heather soil shrubs, which, like it, thrive in acidic substrates. Create a stunning shrub bed by combining it with pieris, rhododendrons and azaleas, macrophylla hydrangeas, kalmias, as well as Japanese maples.

Feel free to combine Drimys aromatica and its bright red branches with shrubs and perennials featuring colourful foliage in warm tones. Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, Acer palmatum ‘Sangokaku’, Berberis thunbergii ‘Admiration’, Heuchera ‘Vienna’ and Pseudowintera colorata

The red branches of Drimys aromatica will beautifully complement the bright red young shoots of Japanese Andromeda (Pieris japonica), the red-spotted leaves of Pseudowintera ‘Red Leopard’, as well as the changing foliage and red stems of Japanese maple ‘Sangokaku’. Also consider the splendid foliage of Berberis ‘Admiration’! At their feet, you can plant colourful perennials, such as heucheras, Hakonechloa, Carex, and Ophiopogon. This will give you a very original and vibrant flowerbed!