Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Laurelia sempervirens

Chilean laurel

An evergreen shrub or small tree, with an upright, conical habit and broadly elliptic, serrated leaves that are glossy bright green when young, and dark green and leathery when mature. Leaves are strongly aromatic when crushed. Clusters of tiny yellow-green flowers are produced in the leaf axils in early summer

Other common names
Peruvian nutmeg
tepa
Synonyms
Laurelia serrata
Size
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres
Time to ultimate height
10–20 years
Ultimate spread
Wider than 8 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drained
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Yellow Green Green
Autumn Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or West–facing or South–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H4
Botanical details
Family
Atherospermataceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright
Name status

Correct

Plant range
Central and Southern Chile

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, moist soil that does not dry out, in a sheltered spot in sun or part shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by semi-ripe cuttings, taken with a heel and potted individually in sandy soil in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Architectural
Pruning

Minimal pruning required, see pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.