Azara microphylla, the boxleaf azara, is a species of flowering plant in the willow family Salicaceae, native to Chile and Argentina. Growing to, it is a small, upright, evergreen tree or large shrub. It has small, shiny, very dark green leaves and tiny, vanilla-scented flowers in winter. It is the hardiest of the azaras, withstanding temperatures down to -15C, but in cooler temperate regions requires some protection from cold winds. It also tolerates full shade.[1]
The specific epithet microphylla comes from the Greek micro ("small") and phyllos ("leaf").[2] The leaves are no more than 2.5cm (01inches) long.
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3]