Soap bark tree from Chile is a lush looking evergreen growing to 10-20m. The star-shaped cream flowers are an added bonus.

Other feature of this tree from the Rosaceae family include:

• good drought tolerance for a tree from the warm, temperate Central Valley of Chile (32-40 Degrees S)
• frost tolerance to around -10C
• glossy, green leaves giving a lush, sub tropical feel
• the bark is used to make soap, hence the name
• this species makes an excellent dense, somewhat narrow screen or back ground tree to off-set deciduous trees in the front
• over time this is an upright tree with weeping branches, a little like some evergreen oaks
• not suitable for a farm windbreak as it has a somewhat shallow root system, better as a creekside or garden specimen
• makes a very good clipped hedge