Peumus boldus

Peumus boldus, commonly known as boldo, is an aromatic evergreen tree endemic to Chile and a characteristic species of the country’s Mediterranean sclerophyll forests. It develops dense, leathery foliage with a distinctive fragrance and produces small cream-white flowers followed by sweet, edible drupes. Boldo is particularly well known for its aromatic leaves, which have a long history of traditional use in herbal infusions, while the tree itself is valued for its drought tolerance and adaptability to a range of sites.

• Common name: Boldo, Boldu
• Hardiness: approximately -8 °C.
• Maximum height: approximately 15–20 m, although many plants remain considerably smaller.
• Flowers / fruit: Yes – small cream-white to yellowish-white flowers followed by sweet, edible drupes. The species is dioecious, so male and female flowers are normally borne on separate plants.
• Type: Tree · Broadleaf · Evergreen
• Soil: adaptable, but grows best in well-drained, porous soil with good organic matter, preferably neutral to moderately acidic. It naturally occurs in both relatively dry Mediterranean habitats and more humid sites.

Picture of analytic view by Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler’s Medizinal-Pflanzen – List of Koehler Images, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=255424