Winter's Bark
Drimys winteri
Winter's bark family (Winteraceae)
A peppery bark
Drimys winteri is a slender tree up to 20 meters high. This evergreen originates from the temperate rainforests of Chile and Argentina. Its lance-shaped leaves have a shiny upper surface and a white underside. The white flowers smell of jasmine and form a blue coloured berry.
Here in the Netherlands it is not considered to be frost tolerant. Its name, winter’s bark, has nothing to do with the winter season. The tree is named after John Winter an explorer who, along with Sir Francis Drake, sailed round the southern most tip of South America. Tormented by scurvy, Captain Winter set ashore and discovered that tea made from winter’s bark was an excellent remedy as it is rich in vitamin C. In Argentina the bark is also used as a substitute for pepper in cooking.
Themes
Crown jewel in the Alkmaar Botanic Garden.
The small, creamy-white flowers are star-shaped and fragrant.
A medicinal plant, and a good source of vitamin C and can be used as a stimulant.
Drimys winteri is an extremely important plant for the indigenous South American inhabitants, the Mapuche. It was considered to be a symbol of peace, and it was almost obligatory to have one planted near each house for good luck and protection. Most peace treaties among these peoples were signed under the shade of this magic tree.
Details
| Description: | Tree, shrub, up to 20 m with glossy oblong leaves, glaucous on the underside. |
|---|---|
| Distributions: | Chile, argentina |
| Habitat: | Coastal evergreen forests. |
| Year cycle: | Perennial (polycarpic evergreen) |
| Hardiness: | 14 - 23 f (hardy - average winter) |
| Flowering period: | Juni |
| Flower color: | White |
| Fruit color: | Blue, purple |
| Notes on fruits: | The fruit is a bluish berry. |
| At its best: | Juni |