Myrceugenia colchaguensis

Myrceugenia colchaguensis, known as colchaguillo or arrayán de Colchagua, is a rare evergreen shrub or small tree found only in Chile. It occurs naturally in scattered, seasonally moist habitats from the Valparaíso Region south to Araucanía. Growing to around 4 metres, it has compact dark-green foliage and small white flowers, followed by attractive berries that mature from green to yellow-orange. With only a limited number of fragmented natural populations remaining, it is one of Chile’s notably threatened native Myrtaceae.

• Common name: Colchaguillo, Arrayán de Colchagua, Lumilla
• Hardiness: -5 °C; best suited to mild climates and sheltered positions.
• Maximum height: approximately 4 m
• Flowers / fruit: Yes – white flowers, followed by berries that mature to yellow-orange. Flowering is generally January–February in Chile, with fruit ripening around October–November.
• Type: Shrub / small tree · Broadleaf · Evergreen
• Soil: Well-drained, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil that stays consistently moist without becoming waterlogged.