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Products > Maytenus boaria   Maytenus boaria - Mayten Tree     [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Tree Family: Celastraceae (Bittersweets) Origin: Chile (South America) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Insignificant Bloomtime: Not Significant Height: 20-30 feet Width: 15-20 feet Exposure: Full Sun Deer Tolerant: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F Maytenus boaria (Mayten Tree) - A very attractive evergreen tree that grows to about 30 feet tall and spreads to nearly an equal width with a rounded crown and weeping and pendulous branches of small bright green leaves that are held perpendicular to the stem. Tiny yellow flowers that appear in winter are inconspicuous and sometimes followed by small brown capsules containing red seeds. This plant makes it a good substitute for the Weeping Willow and unlike the water thirsty willow, the Maytens roots are not invasive, though it has a tendency to sucker if roots are damaged. To prevent this, avoid cultivating around the tree and promote deep rooting. Plant in full sun and irrigate deeply and infrequently to encourage the roots to grow deeply. It is cold hardy to around 20 degrees F. Mature Mayten trees seem to resent heavy prunning and we have been told that this treament can actually kill a tree (would like to hear more information about this). The Mayten Tree is native to waterways in arid and semiarid regions of Chile, Argentina and Peru. The name "Maytenus" comes from 'mantun', the Mapuche Indian name for this species. The specific epithet 'boaria' meaning "of the cattle" is in reference to cattle's preference for the foliage of this plant as forage. If you have additional information or disagree with what we list, please contact us with your comments.  The information on this page is based on the research that we have conducted about this plant in the San Marcos Growers library, from what we have found on reliable online sources, as well as from observations made of our crops of this plant growing in the nursery and of plants growing in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens where we may have observed it. We also have incorporated comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from those who may have additional information, particularly if this information includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Maytenus boaria.     [MORE INFO]