Boldo
Peumus boldus
A slow evergreen of the Chilean matorral; its leathery, camphor-scented leaves are a household after-dinner tea.
Hardiness: zones 9 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 20 ft tall, 15 ft wide
Harvest: year-round
From: Central Chile
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, wildlife, traditional use.
Native to: Southern Cone & Patagonia. Hardy in zones 9 to 10.
The story
Boldo leaves have been found at Monte Verde in southern Chile, a campsite more than 14,000 years old, among the earliest signs of people using plants in the Americas. The tea is still a household drink across Chile and Argentina after a heavy meal.
Planting
Full sun, a Mediterranean climate and soil that drains fast. It takes drought and light frost.
Growing
Very slow. Water sparingly once established and prune only to shape.
Harvest and use
Pick mature leaves and dry them in shade. One leaf in a cup is the custom; it is taken occasionally, not daily.
What to watch for
The leaf is strong: tradition and modern advice both keep it to small amounts for short periods, and not in pregnancy. Seed is slow and uneven.
Safety
Medicinal uses here are shared as history, not advice. Kitchen amounts are fine for most people, but teas, tinctures and supplements can interact with medicines and aren't safe for everyone, especially in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, for children, or with liver or kidney problems. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any plant as medicine.
See if Boldo fits your yard
Free planner: enter your ZIP for frost dates, climate fit and a sowing calendar. No account, no ads, no tracking cookies.
More perennial vegetables, greens and herbs
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home