Myrtus luma

Myrtus luma, now named Luma apiculata, is a bush native to Chile and Argentina, preferring the freshness and mildness of oceanic climates to Mediterranean dryness. This large evergreen bush has beautiful cinnamon to orange-coloured sumptuous bark that peels off to reveal shiny wood. From the heart of summer until autumn, its small dark and aromatic foliage is enveloped in a fragrant cloud of small white-cream flowers with protruding stamens. A magnificent subject to be planted in a large pot on a cold climate patio. It thrives in open ground in mild climates, in cool but well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade.

Myrtus luma, also known as Eugenia apiculata, Myrtus lechlerana or Amomyrtus luma, is a large bush that reaches over 9m (29ft) in height in its natural environment, but rarely exceeds 3m (10ft) in height and 1.5m (5ft) in width in cultivation, especially since it tolerates pruning perfectly. It belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which is found in the wild on the watered slopes of the Andes and not far from rivers. In Europe, the most beautiful specimens grow in Irish gardens. Its growth is very slow and its habit is naturally dense, ramified, and very bushy. The evergreen leaves are round to ovate, leathery, and slightly aromatic. They do not exceed 2cm (1in) in length and 1.5cm (1in) in width. They emerge with a copper colour and then become a shiny dark green. They show a very marked central vein. The honey-bearing bush blooms generously in midsummer, from July-August to September-October. The small white or cream to pink fragrant flowers have 5 petals, and are 1 to 2cm (1in) wide. Grouped in compact clusters of 3 to 5 units, they open into a large bouquet of prominent stamens. They appear in the axils of the leaves, on the current year's shoots, and are followed by the formation of small ovoid, fleshy, edible and aromatic fruits in autumn. The fruits are initially red, then turn black when ripe. The remarkable bark is chestnut to reddish on young plants, then turns orange while peeling off in strips.

Hardy to around -8°C (17.6°F), the Chilean myrtle is a magnificent conservatory plant in cold climates. In a greenhouse or conservatory, it will form an extremely decorative quartet with an orange tree, a Tibouchina and a mimosa, evoking landscapes with exotic charm and fragrance. In mild climates, it can be used as a standalone plant, in the background of a bed, or even on the edge of a woodland. It can also be planted in an evergreen hedge, accompanied by a bushy ceanothus ('Italian Skyes', 'Concha', 'Puget Blue', 'Skylark'), a spring-flowering broom, Leptospermum, or even callistemons with red flowers (Callistemon citrinus 'Splendens').