Boldo
Peumus boldus
A slow, drought-hardy Chilean evergreen prized for its aromatic, medicinal leaves - undemanding once established. Needs a partner tree to fruit, and its potent oils are toxic in excess.
Boldo in a syntropic line
Boldo belongs in the Medium layer as a Climax species. The productive heart — most of your yield lives here. Rough in-row spacing starts around 2.3 m in a syntropic row. Good line partners include Aspen, Avocado, Black locust. As a Climax species it is meant to stay for the long term — protect its light and root space as pioneers fade.
Tolerances and growing conditions
- Strata
- Medium
- Lifecycle
- Climax
- Soil preference
- Sandy, Loam
- Soil pH range
- 5.5 – 7.5
- Min. temperature
- -8°C
- Min. rainfall
- 400 mm/year
- Wind tolerance
- Medium
- Frost tolerance
- Medium
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Irrigation needed
- Low
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Waterlogging tolerance
- Medium
- Origin
- Chile
- Native to Portugal
- No
How to manage it
Drought-hardy evergreen grown for medicinal/aromatic leaves; tolerates part shade and clips well for hedging; protect young plants from hard frost.
How to propagate
Fresh seed germinates slowly; take softwood cuttings in spring and keep humid.
Guidance, not a guarantee — success varies by species and skill.
What to watch out for
Dioecious - needs both sexes nearby to set fruit. Leaves and oil are medicinally potent (high in ascaridole) and toxic in quantity - do not overconsume or feed to livestock.
Frequently asked questions about Boldo
Is boldo frost-hardy?
Yes for winter cold in many climates — generally hardy to around -8°C when dormant, with medium frost tolerance in the catalog. Flowering crops can still lose a season to late frost, so site them carefully.
What soil does boldo need?
It does best on sandy, loam ground, at pH about 5.5–7.5.
How much water does boldo need?
Plan for a rainfall floor around 400 mm/year, plus low irrigation once established.
Can boldo handle wet or waterlogged soil?
It has medium waterlogging tolerance — short winter wet is usually fine, standing water is not.
What should I watch out for with boldo?
Dioecious - needs both sexes nearby to set fruit. Leaves and oil are medicinally potent (high in ascaridole) and toxic in quantity - do not overconsume or feed to livestock.
Design your line to see how your land fits Boldo.
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