Luma chequen

Luma chequen, also known as Molina or Myrtus chequen, is a Chilean myrtle that should not be confused with the Luma apiculata despite their many similarities. Luma chequen is a shrub of smaller size, but with faster growth, whose leaves are smaller and have a flavour and aroma curiously reminiscent of chewing gum. Very bushy, dense in foliage, it is covered, from late summer to autumn, with a fragrant cloud of small cream-white flowers with prominent stamens. Preferring the humidity and mildness of oceanic climates over the Mediterranean dryness, it makes a beautiful subject to be planted in a hedge in a mild climate, or in a large pot on a patio in a cold climate.

Luma chequen belongs to the myrtle family. It is a shrub that generally reaches 2m (6 ft 7 in) in height and about 1m (3 ft 4 in) in width in most climates. It is found in the wild in the forests of the central Andes, located between Chile and Argentina, up to 2000 m (6561 ft 8 in) altitude, often not far from rivers. In Europe, the most beautiful Chilean myrtles grow in Irish gardens. The growth of this Myrtle chequen is quite fast and its habit is naturally dense, branching and very bushy. The leaves, round to ovate, leathery, pointed, are very aromatic. They measure no more than 1.5 cm (0.6 in) long by 1 cm (0.4 in) wide, and are a shiny dark green colour. The shrub, very rich in nectar, blooms generously between late August and late September or early October. The small white flowers, pleasantly fragrant, are 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) wide and have 5 petals. They open on a large cluster of prominent stamens. They are solitary, borne as inflorescences on a long stem and appear in the axils of the leaves, on the shoots of the same year. After pollination, small rounded, fleshy, edible, sweet and aromatic fruits form, becoming dark violet and shiny when ripe in autumn. They are sought after by certain birds. The bark of this Luma chequen, smooth and grey-brown, is less remarkable than that of its close relative, Luma apiculata.

Hardy to about -7°C (19.4 °F), tolerant of pruning, the Chilean myrtle chequen is an elegant orangery plant in cold climates. In a greenhouse or conservatory, it will make an extremely decorative grouping with a lemon tree, a Tibouchina or a mimosa, evoking landscapes with exotic charm and fragrance. In mild climates, it can be used as a hedge, in isolation, or even at the back of a bed, even on the edge of a woodland. It can be associated with shrubby ceanothus ('Italian Skyes', 'Concha', 'Puget Blue', 'Skylark'...), Leptospermum, or even red-flowering callistemons (Callistemon citrinus 'Splendens', Callistemon viminalis), large Grevillea.