Belfast Botanic Gardens Tree Archive
Azara microphylla is an evergreen tree somewhat resembling
Lonicera nitida with its small neat leaves. These
are pleasantly glossy and arranged alternately along the stem in two opposite
rows. Smaller, about one third the leaf size, foliose (leaf-like) stipules are
attached at most nodes giving the appearance of leaves borne in unequal pairs.
The yellow flowers are very small, often going unnoticed, but distinguished
for their vanilla fragrance so early in the year, February to April, when they
open. It is the cluster of stamens that is the most obvious characteristic of
the flowers which appear on the underside of the twigs, so it is worth getting
up close and searching for them. The scent spills out into the air.
A. microphylla ‘'Variegata'’ of
garden origin has leaves edged with an irregular band of creamy yellow and has
proved a popular garden shrub or wall plant.
