Maqui

Aristotelia chilensis

Small, ink-dark berries on a quick evergreen; a Mapuche food and dye. Needs a male and a female plant.

Type: small tree · berries and small fruit
Hardiness: zones 8 to 10
Light: part shade
Size: about 15 ft tall, 10 ft wide
Harvest: December to February
From: Chile and Argentina
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, pollinators.

Native to: Southern Cone & Patagonia. Hardy in zones 8 to 10.

The story

Maqui is a sacred plant of the Mapuche, used at ceremonies and gathered each summer for food, drink and a deep purple dye. It is among the first trees to return after fire or clearing in southern Chile.

Planting

Sun or part shade and moist, well-drained soil. It grows fast and stands light frost.

Growing

Plant at least one male among the females. Cut back hard after harvest to keep the fruit in reach.

Harvest and use

Strip the small black berries in mid to late summer. Eat them fresh, dry them, or make juice and jam; they stain everything.

What to watch for

Birds strip the crop. In a few mild, wet places it can seed around, so check before planting outside South America.

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More berries and small fruit

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