Huigen (Schinus polygamus)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Frost limit
- −12.2 °C
Cultivation
Prefers a well-drained soil. Plants are very variable in their cold tolerance depending on their provenance, most forms are not very hardy outdoors in Britain but selected forms succeed when grown against a sunny wall. A plant growing in a fairly sunny position, but under quite dense tree cover, at Hilliers Arboretum in Hampshire is thriving and had set a large crop of fruit in September 1996[K]. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
Propagation
Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a warm greenhouse in mid spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter before planting out in early summer[K]. Cuttings of almost ripe wood, 8cm with a heel, August to early September in a frame. Fair to good percentage.
Edible uses
Fruit.
Medicinal uses
The fruit, and a resin obtained from the fruit, is antirheumatic.
Material uses
An aromatic resin is obtained from the fruit of this species, it is mainly used medicinally.
Habitat
Not known
Native range
S. America - C. Chile.