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Vestia foetida (Chilean Box Thorn) - A compact upright growing evergreen shrub to 4 to 6 feet tall by 3 to 5 feet wide with glossy dark green 1 to 2 inch long by 3/4 inch wide alternate leaves that are pungently scented when crushed. It has attractive nodding 1 1/2-inch-long tubular yellow flowers that have recurved petal lobes and protruding stamens that arise from the leaf axils in spring to early summer and are followed by upward facing acorn shaped fruit.
Plant in full sun in a moderately well drained soil and irrigate regularly to occasionally. Cold hardy to at least 15° F (some list to 10° F) and useful at least in USDA Zones 8 and above. We really do not have much experience with growing this plant in the ground in our region, but it comes from a mediterranean climate and should do well for us. It is highly thought of in the British Isles and Pacific Northwest where it often needs some winter protection. Its flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, but its foliage is toxic to grazing animals.
Vestia is a monotypic genus with this single species native to central and southern Chile where it grows above 650 feet in elevation. The name was given to the genus by the German botanist Carl Ludwig Willdenow to honor the physician Dr. Lorenz Chrysanth Edler von Vest of Klagenfurth. The specific epithet refers to the unpleasant smell of the leaves of this plant when crushed. In Chile it is known by the names Huevil, Echuelcúb or Chupli and, besides Chilean Box Thorn, other English common names include Stinking Vestia and Chilean Yellow Fuchsia. It was first introduced into cultivation before 1809 at the Berlin Botanic Garden and into England around 1815. Our thanks go out to Blair Haynes of ShingleHouse Nursery in Coos Bay Oregon, who first shared with us this interesting plant that we have grown since 2017.
The information displayed on this page about Vestia foetida is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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