Azara serrata 'Andes Gold'

RHS Plant Profile

saw-toothed azara 'Andes Gold'

Shrubs Trees

An evergreen shrub or small tree, up to 5m high, with glossy, oval, serrated leaves and fragrant yellow flowers in late spring or early summer; after hot summers the flowers may be followed by white fruits

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Salicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Azara are evergreen shrubs or small trees with simple leaves, often in unequal pairs, and very small, fragrant yellow flowers with prominent stamens in clusters or spikes from the leaf axils, occasionally followed by white or pale purple berries
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a sheltered position in sun or partial shade in a deep, humus-rich soil; it will flower more prolifically when grown against a south-facing or south-west-facing wall than in the open. In cold climates grow in a cool greenhouse, in a high-fertility, peat-free, loam-based mix, and water plentifully in the growing season

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings or by layering

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility