Plant in full sun and water occasionally to more moderately. It has proven hardy to short duration temperatures from 20-25 degrees F. A very decorative tree when new red foliage flushes (often in summer).

Cryptocarya alba is native to wetter mountain slopes and ravines in central Chile. The name for the genus is from the Greek words 'krypto' meaning "hidden" and 'karya' meaning nut in reference to the small size of the fruit. The specific long used for this plant was "rubra", meaning red, so named for it flushes of red new foliage, but the currently correct name uses the epithet meaning "white" in reference to the color of the fruit.

This tree was introduced into cultivation by the USDA Bureau of Plant Industry as BPI 54629-1921 We grew this attractive tree (as Cryptocarya rubra) from 1981 until 1993. It can found scattered around Santa Barbara as a street tree - notably in the 200 block of West Pueblo Street and a large specimen on Alan Road near Arroyo Burro Beach Park. It is closely related to another Chilean plant in the Laurel family that is infrequently seen in cultivation, Beilschmiedia miersii. 

The information displayed on this page about Cryptocarya alba 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.