Temu divaricatum Heaven Scent

The Temu divaricatum 'Heaven Scent', now renamed Blepharrocalix cruckshanksii, is a Chilean bush from the myrtle family, not very hardy but with many ornamental qualities: the plant forms a large, dense bush, it has pretty, small, aromatic, evergreen leaves, displays a beautiful brick-coloured bark that peels over time and offers a lovely summer flowering with pleasantly scented white pompons. Preferring the moisture and mildness of oceanic climates to Mediterranean dryness, it makes a magnificent subject to be planted in a hedge or a shrub bed.

According to specialists, the Temu divaricatum 'Heaven Scent' is identical in every way to the wild species. It is also called Eugenia cruckshanksii or Luma cruckshanksii. It is a large bush native to Chile and Argentina belonging to the myrtle family. Reaching over 14 m (46ft) in height in its natural environment, it rarely exceeds 3.50 m (11ft) in height and 2 m (7ft) in width when grown in European climates, especially since it tolerates pruning perfectly. This plant is found in the wild on moist slopes and not far from watercourses, often in forests.

The Temu Heaven Scent has a fairly rapid growth. Its habit is naturally dense, ramified, and very bushy. Over the years, the bush can  take the form of a small tree with a short trunk. The small, evergreen leaves, elliptical to oblong, leathery, measure 1.7 to 5.5 cm (1 to 2in) long and 0.8 to 3 cm (1in) wide. They are highly aromatic: when crushed, they release a scent of myrtle and orange. Their color is a shiny khaki green, then they turn red at the end of their life. The very nectar-rich bush flowers in the middle of summer, profusely from July to August. 

The small, fragrant, white to pale yellow flowers have 5 petals and are 1 to 2 cm (1in) wide. They are clustered in groups of 3 to 15 units and open to reveal a large bouquet of prominent stamens. They appear in the axils of the leaves, on the new shoots, and are followed in autumn by the formation of small ovoid, fleshy, edible, and aromatic fruits, but with a bitter taste, initially red and then black when ripe. The remarkable bark is smooth and reddish-brown in color. It flakes off in small plates, revealing a smooth and fresh wood with a slightly greenish-gray shade.

Hardy to about -7°C, the Blepharrocalix cruckshanksii 'Heaven Scent' is a magnificent conservatory plant in cold climates and an excellent candidate for coastal gardens. In a greenhouse or conservatory, it will create an extremely decorative trio with an orange tree and a mimosa, evoking landscapes with exotic charm and fragrance. In mild climates, especially on the Atlantic coasts, it can be used as a standalone plant or in the back of a flower bed, even on the edge of a woodland. It can also be planted in an evergreen hedge, accompanied by a Luma chequen, an arbousier Marina, Leptospermum, or even red-flowering callistemons (Callistemon citrinus 'Splendens').