Native Plants of Chile

The 5000 species of native plants of Chile are unique for several reasons. First, there is great variety due to the variety of climates of Chile, which can be divided geographically into three main areas: the desert in the north, the subtropics in the central area, and the rainforest-like humid regions in the south. Second, the plants are unique in terms of the altitudes at which some of them can thrive. In addition, they grow in very extreme temperatures and climactic conditions, from desert to rainforest. Finally, over 50 percent of the plants are endemic, that is, they are found only in Chile.

Due to the abundance of species and unique geographical features of each region, the three main areas are also subdivided by botanists into 13 unique regions, I through XII and the RM region, RegiOn Metropolitana de Santiago, the area surrounding the capital of the country.

The North is comprised of Regions I and II. The northern desert-like region from Arica to Copiapo contains mainly cactus species such as the candelabrum-shaped Browningia candelaris, and the tall columns of the Echinopsis atacamensis. Some of over 180 cacti of Chile are dwarf species. Other unique species can even grow under snow cover, such as the hardy Austrocactus phillippi and its cousin the Austrocactus spinflorus.

The flowering tamarugo tree, related to the pea family, is common in the flatter areas of the north. In the Andes, where there is more rainfall, you can find a cousin of the tamarugo, the algarrobo. The thorny chanar produces lovely yellow flowers and then small edible orange berries.

The central area is comprised of Regions III through VIII and RM. Each has a wider variety of flora, many of them unique even within their own particular region. There are many evergreens and subtropical plants like the peumo tree, highly prized for its durable wood, edible red berries, fragrant leaves and gray bark, which is used in the leather tanning industry and for dyeing cloth. It can grow to 65 feet in height and a foot in diameter. The evergreen quillay tree, also known as the Soap Bark tree, gets its name from its main use as a source of soap when the bark is powdered. The tree is used for its wood, perfume-like properties and medicinal properties. It can grow to 65 feet and has white flowers and a woody fruit shaped like a star. This area is also home to a wealth of elegant flowering shrubs in a rainbow of colors, both annuals and perennials.

The South is comprised of Regions IX through XII. The most prominent southern plant is the Chilean pine, which can grow to over 100 feet and produces a great deal of fruit. There are two other main trees used for their wood, the Nothofagus pumilio, and rauli. Further south are thick forested areas comprised mainly of Chilean cypress and laurel trees. Other unique species include the luma or Chilean myrtle, used for honey and medicine; lingue trees, with their rare pink wood; and avellano trees with their lovely red fruit and elegant flowers which encourage bees and butterflies. The tropics further south have both an evergreen beech (Nothofagus oblique) and a deciduous Antarctic beech with wavy leaves (Nothofagus antarctica). There are far fewer flowering plants in this area due to the thick forests and more extreme climate the further south you travel toward the Antarctic.