The Vanilla Scent of Spring

For the past week I have been enjoying the delicious vanilla scent of the Chilean vanilla tree, Azara microphylla, wafting through my garden. My parents grew this small evergreen tree in their garden, and I have always tried to find room for it in my gardens ever since. It is a narrow tree, and although it is evergreen its leaves are so small, and its branches so widely spaced, and so fine, that it never seems too dark and heavy.  Its maximum height is around 6 metres, but 5 metres is more usual.

Its native habitat is the mountains of southern South America (mainly Chile and Argentina). This makes it a good partner with New Zealand native trees in a mixed planting, since its form and its soil preferences are very compatible. Its flowers are tiny yellow pompoms, drenched with scent that can travel as far as 20 metres through the garden on a still day.

It is not a flashy tree, and it only does one thing really well. But it does this  so well that every September I know that spring has truly arrived when I inhale that lovely vanilla fragrance.

A spray of vanilla tree flowers.