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

ShrubsTrees

Maytenus boaria

maiten

An evergreen tree potentially to 20m, but in Britain usually a small tree or large shrub, 3-10m, tall with an oval crown and slender, drooping branches. Leaves are narrowly lance-shaped, 5cm long, shining mid-green above and paler beneath. Flowers greenish-white, small and inconspicuous, numerous, borne in leaf axils in spring and fragrant. May be followed by small, red, 2-seeded fleshy fruits

Other common names

mayten

Save to My plants

Buy this plant

Plant nurseries
4 suppliers

Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

20–50 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–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)

Botanical details

Family: Celastraceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Maytenus is a genus of around 200 trees and shrubs, originating from the Americas, but with only a couple of species that are hardy in most of the British Isles. They produce tiny, star-shaped to tubular flowers, singly or in clusters, which may be followed by colourful fruit
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Chile

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun with midday shade. A sheltered position is ideal

Propagation

Propagate by seed under glass in autumn. Remove suckers in spring. Can also be propagted by semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Coastal
Mediterranean climate plants
Low Maintenance
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Love gardening

View our Privacy Policy

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.