National Collection of Azara

The University holds the National Collection of Azara in co-operation with the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens (NCCPG).

The NCCPG seeks to conserve, document, promote and make available Britain and Ireland’s rich biodiversity of garden plants for the benefit of everyone through horticulture, education and science.

Azara is the name of a small genus of trees and small shrubs which are evergreen or partially evergreen, with scented yellow flowers, native to Chile and surrounding countries in South America.

Some of these species are difficult to grow, requiring their own microclimate, and it has proved impossible to grow them all in one place on the campus.

Azara petiolaris is an evergreen shrub with scented flowers native to Chile.  It was introduced to Britain in 1859.

The collection includes:-

• Azara celastrina
• Azara dentata
• Azara integrifolia
• Azara integrifolia Variegata
• Azara integrifolia Browneii
• Azara lanceolata
• Azara microphylla
• Azara microphylla Variegata
• Azara paraguayensis
• Azara petiolaris
• Azara serrata
• Azara uraguayensis