Maytenus ilicifolia – a plant with many possibilities

Maytenus ilicifolia (Schrad.) Planch is a native plant of south Brazil and is popularly used medicinally for stomach diseases.
This plant could also have ornamental purposes.
This paper describes this plant for ornamental uses.
It is classified as a small tree or as a big bush with maximum 5 m height.
It has a dense symmetrical canopy of glossy, dark green, leathery leaves, with thorny margins and cream colored edging.
Small cream colored flowers develop in early spring followed by small oblong, red fruits that open exposing the white aril, forming a beautiful contrast.
It has potential very similar to Ilex aquifolium which is used in Christmas festivities in the northern hemisphere.
The stems have high potential to be used in the cut flower sector with durability of more than 10 days in water as a cut floral product.
In landscaping it can be used as a feature plant or a hedgerow and because of its compact size.
Another possibility is also in usage as a bonsai subject.

XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes (IHC2014): International Symposium on Ornamental Horticulture in the Global Greenhouse

S.Z. Fischer, E.R.T. Stumpf, M.P. Mariot

native plants, floriculture, cut flower, landscaping, potted flower

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1104.75