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In Bloom

Look for Drimys winteri in the Zellerbach Garden of Perennials and the Chilean Garden.

Location Scientific Name Drimys winteri Common Name Winter's Bark Family Winteraceae Plant Type Small evergreen tree Environment Prefers full sun or light shade and needs good soil drainage and even moisture. May require pruning in late summer or fall to increase blooms and to maintain shape. Bloom Fragrant, white flowers throughout the winter months. Cinnamon colored aromatic bark and bright green aromatic leaves. Uses The pungent bark is powered and used as a pepper substitute in South America. Long history of medicinal use, particularly for stomach disorders and indigestion. More Info Plants for a Future database Photos of Drimys winteri in its native Chilean habitat Profile Contributor: Fred Bové

Winter's Bark can be found from Mexico to Tierra del Fuego. It is a small evergreen tree with fragrant white flowers in loose umbels. Its fame was in its aromatic bark that has cured sailors in past centuries from scurvy, a lack of ascorbic acid particularly affecting seaman on long voyages.

Sir Francis Drake on his journey around the world in 1577-80 had on board Captain William Winter, a doctor, who discovered from natives living in the Straits of Magellan that the bark of this local tree called "Canelo," in Chile, and brewed as a tea, would keep sailors from becoming ill. Vitamin C, vital to good health and unknown then, was present in the bark. William Winter's ship was the only one of five to survive the trip around the Horn and return safely to England. Later, Captain Cook used the same bark tea (plus sauerkraut!) for his sailors on his voyages of discovery between 1770-75, enabling him to stay at sea for years, circumnavigating the globe, and exploring Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and many other places.

Drimys winteri needs a sheltered frost-free place in the garden, and rewards the gardener with a long blooming period while filling the air with its fragrance.

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Magnolia campbellii January	Magnolia denudata February	Magnolia x veitchii March
Iris douglasiana April

Acer palmatum 'Sango kaku' January	Magnolia campbellii 'Darjeeling' February	Bomarea spp. March
Rhododendron occidentale April	Polystichum munitum May	x Chiranthofremontia lenzii June
Salvia leucantha July	Hydrangea seemannii August	Wollemia nobilis September
Cyathea cooperi October	Pinus radiata November	Correa spp. December

Garrya elliptica January	Magnolia x soulangeana February	Senecio glastifolius March
Ribes spp. April	Oxalis oregana May	Calandrinia grandiflora June
Taxus baccata July	Romneya coulteri August	Passiflora parritae September
Malvaviscus arboreus October	Monterey Cypress November	Aloe arborescens December

Aloe plicatilis January	Banksia seminuda February	Zantedeschia aethiopica March
Magnolia laevifolia April	Araucaria heterophylla May	Toxicodendron diversilobum June
Clarkia sp. July	Agapanthus August	Brugmansia September
Cedrus spp. October	Protea repens November	Camellia sinensis December

Thujopsis dolabrata January	Gordonia longicarpa February	Rojasianthe superba March
Echium spp. April	Iris douglasiana May	Digitalis purpurea June
Felicia amelloides July	Ceroxylon quindiuense August	Amaryllis belladonna September
Ginkgo biloba October	Acer morrisonense November	Ilex aquifolium December

Picea sitchensis January	Telanthophora grandifolia February	Aeonium arboreum 'Schwartzkopf' March
Leptospermum April	Salvia gesneraeflora May	Lavandula spp. June
Pelargonium July	Fuchsia paniculata August	Luma apiculata September
Luculia October	Arbutus unedo November	Cycad December

Restionaceae January	Hellebores February	Ceanothus March
Rhododendron April	Psoralea pinnata May	Fremontodendron californicum June
Leucadendron argenteum July	Crocosmia August	Gunnera tinctoria September
Pellaea rotundifolia October	Fuchsia boliviana November	Erica canaliculata December

Magnolia campbelli January	Magnolia denudata February	Camellia March
Geranium maderense April	Acmena smithii May	Eschscholzia californica June
Dendromecon harfordii July	Romneya coulteri August	Eupatorium purpureum September
Epilobium canum sp. October	Grevillea spp. November	Drimys winteri December