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Collector's item

Luma chequen

Luma chequen
White-flowered Myrtle, Chilean Myrtle

5,0/5
1 reviews
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Beautiful and vigorous young plant. Its height corresponds to the one announced.

Marie-Anne, 27/04/2022

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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

More information

A beautiful evergreen shrub, dense and bushy, with small dark and aromatic foliage that releases a chewing gum scent when crushed. It is adorned in late summer or early autumn with small creamy-white flowers with prominent stamens, similar to those of common myrtle, followed by small blue-black berries. This species thrives in a well-drained, moderately moist soil, in full sun or partial shade. Hardiness: up to -7°C (19.4 °F) at the peak for a mature specimen, in a well-drained soil.
Flower size
2 cm
Height at maturity
2 m
Spread at maturity
1.25 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -6°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March to April, September
Recommended planting time March to May, September to October
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Flowering time August to October
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Description

Luma chequen, also known as Molina or Myrtus chequen, is a Chilean myrtle that should not be confused with the Luma apiculata despite their many similarities. Luma chequen is a shrub of smaller size, but with faster growth, whose leaves are smaller and have a flavour and aroma curiously reminiscent of chewing gum. Very bushy, dense in foliage, it is covered, from late summer to autumn, with a fragrant cloud of small cream-white flowers with prominent stamens. Preferring the humidity and mildness of oceanic climates over the Mediterranean dryness, it makes a beautiful subject to be planted in a hedge in a mild climate, or in a large pot on a patio in a cold climate.

Luma chequen belongs to the myrtle family. It is a shrub that generally reaches 2m (6 ft 7 in) in height and about 1m (3 ft 4 in) in width in most climates. It is found in the wild in the forests of the central Andes, located between Chile and Argentina, up to 2000 m (6561 ft 8 in) altitude, often not far from rivers. In Europe, the most beautiful Chilean myrtles grow in Irish gardens. The growth of this Myrtle chequen is quite fast and its habit is naturally dense, branching and very bushy. The leaves, round to ovate, leathery, pointed, are very aromatic. They measure no more than 1.5 cm (0.6 in) long by 1 cm (0.4 in) wide, and are a shiny dark green colour. The shrub, very rich in nectar, blooms generously between late August and late September or early October. The small white flowers, pleasantly fragrant, are 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) wide and have 5 petals. They open on a large cluster of prominent stamens. They are solitary, borne as inflorescences on a long stem and appear in the axils of the leaves, on the shoots of the same year. After pollination, small rounded, fleshy, edible, sweet and aromatic fruits form, becoming dark violet and shiny when ripe in autumn. They are sought after by certain birds. The bark of this Luma chequen, smooth and grey-brown, is less remarkable than that of its close relative, Luma apiculata.

Hardy to about -7°C (19.4 °F), tolerant of pruning, the Chilean myrtle chequen is an elegant orangery plant in cold climates. In a greenhouse or conservatory, it will make an extremely decorative grouping with a lemon tree, a Tibouchina or a mimosa, evoking landscapes with exotic charm and fragrance. In mild climates, it can be used as a hedge, in isolation, or even at the back of a bed, even on the edge of a woodland. It can be associated with shrubby ceanothus ('Italian Skyes', 'Concha', 'Puget Blue', 'Skylark'...), Leptospermum, or even red-flowering callistemons (Callistemon citrinus 'Splendens', Callistemon viminalis), large Grevillea.

Luma chequen in pictures

Luma chequen (Flowering) Flowering

Plant habit

Height at maturity 2 m
Spread at maturity 1.25 m
Habit spreading
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour white
Flowering time August to October
Inflorescence Solitary
Flower size 2 cm
Fragrance Fragrant
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators
Fruit colour black

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour dark green
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased
Foliage description The leaves release a fragrance that evokes bubble gum with when crushed.

Botanical data

Genus

Luma

Species

chequen

Family

Myrtaceae

Other common names

White-flowered Myrtle, Chilean Myrtle

Origin

South America

Product reference171301

Other Myrtus - Myrtle

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Planting and care

Myrtus chequen will thrive in a soil that is light, well-drained, and remains moist in summer. It can tolerate various types of soil, whether humus-rich, slightly rocky, or sandy, and it can tolerate slightly acidic, neutral, or even slightly alkaline soil. It can withstand coastal conditions. Plant it after the last frost or in September-October in warmer climates. It will thrive in full sun or partial shade. Under these conditions, it is hardy down to -7°C (it may lose its leaves at -6°C), and can live for many years. Provide winter protection by wrapping it in horticultural fleece in colder regions, and isolate it from the cold as much as possible. Place it in the warmest corner of the garden, against a south-facing wall in full sun. However, away from milder coastal regions, it will be necessary to grow it in a large pot and store it indoors during winter, in a bright but unheated area. To shape the plant, you can prune the stems in March-April or after flowering to encourage branching. Pruning is well tolerated.

Cultivation in pots:

Ensure good drainage at the bottom of a large pot. Use a lightweight substrate, enriched with leaf compost, and apply a slow-release fertilizer in late winter and autumn. Water generously in summer, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. The more you water, the more your myrtle will flower.

Planting period

Best planting time March to April, September
Recommended planting time March to May, September to October

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Back of border, Container, Hedge
Hardiness Hardy down to -6°C (USDA zone 9a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Acidic, Neutral
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Well-drained, deep soil.

Care

Pruning instructions To shape your myrtle or keep it in reasonable proportions, prune it in late winter or autumn, which will not damage the flowering.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time March to April, October
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Needs protection
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