Azara microphylla | Chocolate Azara Tree | Fragrant Evergreen Shrub | Chinchin Tree | Live Evergreen Plant | 1 Gallon Pot

Azara microphylla, commonly known as Chocolate Azara or Chinchin Tree, is a graceful evergreen tree prized for its tiny glossy leaves and wonderfully fragrant late winter blooms. Small golden-yellow flowers release a rich chocolate and vanilla-like fragrance that perfumes the garden when little else is flowering.

Native to South America, this elegant evergreen develops into a dense, upright tree or large shrub, making it an excellent choice for privacy screens, specimen plantings, woodland gardens, and sensory landscapes. Its fine-textured foliage provides year-round beauty while its fragrant blooms attract early pollinators.

Key Features

• Botanical Name: Azara microphylla
• Common Name: Chocolate Azara, Chinchin Tree
• Plant Type: Evergreen Tree or Large Shrub
• Foliage Color: Glossy Deep Green
• Flower Color: Golden Yellow
• Fragrance: Rich Chocolate and Vanilla Scent
• Mature Height: 15–20 feet
• Spread: 10–15 feet
• Bloom Season: Late Winter to Early Spring
• Growth Habit: Upright, Dense, Bushy
• Light Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
• Water Needs: Moderate; prefers consistently moist, well-drained soil
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 8–10

Why You'll Love It

• Unique chocolate-scented flowers
• Evergreen year-round beauty
• Elegant fine-textured foliage
• Excellent specimen or privacy screen
• Low-maintenance once established
• Attracts bees and early pollinators
• Perfect for woodland and sensory gardens
• Adaptable to containers while young

Perfect For

• Sensory gardens
• Privacy hedges
• Evergreen screens
• Woodland gardens
• Foundation plantings
• Accent trees
• Mixed borders
• Cottage gardens
• Mediterranean landscapes

Care Instructions

Plant in fertile, well-drained soil with regular moisture during establishment. Grow in full sun to partial shade, protecting young plants from harsh drying winds. Apply mulch around the base to conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature. Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape and encourage dense branching.