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Shrubs

Ugni molinae 'Butterball'

A slow-growing, upright shrub to 1.2m tall, with glossy, leathery leaves. The new foliage growth is yellow with a pink tinge. Fragrant, bowl-shaped, pale pink flowers are produced from the leaf axils in summer; these are followed by edible, dark red berries. This borderline hardy shrub will only thrive outdoors in mild districts

Synonyms

Myrtus ugni 'Butterball'

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or 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)

Botanical details

Family: Myrtaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Ugni are densely leafy evergreen shrubs or trees. The small, oval, leathery leaves are arranged in pairs. The cup- or bowl-shaped flowers on young shoots are followed by edible, round berries
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade, with shelter from cold drying winds. In all but the mildest districts grow in a cool conservatory or greenhouse in large pots of loam-based potting compost

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings taken in summer with bottom heat

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Low Maintenance
Climber and wall shrubs
Edible fruit

Pruning

See pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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