National Collection of Azara

The University holds the National Collection of Azara in co-operation with Plant Heritage who seek to conserve, document, promote and make available Britain and Ireland’s rich biodiversity of garden plants for the benefit of everyone through horticulture, education and science.

Azara is the name of a small genus of trees and small shrubs which are evergreen or partially evergreen, with scented yellow flowers, native to Chile and surrounding countries in South America.

Some of these species are difficult to grow, requiring their own microclimate, and it has proved impossible to grow them all in one place on the campus.

The University holds a digital Herbarium which represents all of the Azara plant specimens held by the University.

The collection includes:

• Azara celastrina
• Azara dentata
• Azara integrifolia
• Azara integrifolia 'Variegata'
• Azara lanceolata
• Azara microphylla
• Azara microphylla 'Variegata'
• Azara petiolaris
• Azara serrata
• Azara uraguayensis