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INTRODUCTION

Image of Desfontainia spinosa

IX Region, Camino Caburga - Pucon, Chile
Altitude: 400-1200 m. 02 17, 2006

DESCRIPTION

Plant type: Shrub

Flower: Red, 5 petals

Height: 2 m.

Image of Desfontainia spinosa

IX Region, Camino Caburga - Pucon, Chile
Altitude: 400-1200 m. 02 17, 2006

HABITAT

In Chile this species grows in the following environmental conditions:

Habitat according to altitude:

Medium altitude up to the timber line
Coastal mountains, 500 - 2000 m.

Watering conditions:

Humid areas, with almost constant rainfall. Short dry periods are possible (generally not longer than 1 month).

Light conditions:

Some shadow. Some protection against direct sunlight, some shadow from vegetation, filtering about 20 - 40 % of light.
In shadow. Steep slopes facing south or a vegetation cover which filters 40 - 80 % of light.
In deep shadow. Deep ravines facing south with additional shadow from trees, or where there is a very dense vegetation cover which gives 80 - 100 % shadow (for instance, the Valdivian forests)

Image of Desfontainia spinosa

IX Region, Camino Caburga - Pucon, Chile
Altitude: 400-1200 m. 02 17, 2006

USES

Excellent ornamental value (A +)

Image of Desfontainia spinosa

IX Region, Camino Caburga - Pucon, Chile
Altitude: 400-1200 m. 02 17, 2006

GROWING TIPS

This species has the following hardiness:

USDA Hardiness Zone 8. The plant tolerates low temperatures (-8° C), can tolerate occasional snow cover for up to a couple of weeks per year.

Low germination, less than 30 %

If you are interested in purchasing seeds of this or similar species, please go to our On-line Seeds Shop.

More photos (3) of Desfontainia spinosa Ruiz & Pav. available here

More species from the same Desfontainiaceae family in our data base:

Desfontainia spinosa (Taique / Chapico / Trau-trau)