Aristotelia chilensis, known as maqui or Chilean wineberry, is a tree species in the Elaeocarpaceae family native to South America in the Valdivian temperate rainforests of Chile and adjacent regions of southern Argentina.
Plant in moist, fertile soil in sun or partial shade and remember to keep well watered as they are not drought tolerant.
Spring pruning favored the appearance of vegetative and reproductive shoots. This treatment also improved the fruit yield of the following season compared with summer pruning. Vegetative shoots sprout mainly on two year old branches, while reproductive shoots appear also from recently grown plant sections.
In nature, the species is a small tree that can reach a height of 5 meters and can be kept as a container plant at a minimum temperature of -5 degrees Celsius. The plants are dioecious, so that there are both male and female plants. Female plants also produce berries without pollination: even seedless in that case.
All berry varieties grow very well in containers, indoors or on the patio. Smaller varieties grow best indoors in 10″ to 14″ diameter pots while larger varieties need enough room for growth, generally a 14″ to a 24″ diameter, 14″ deep container will suffice. Remember the looser the roots, the taller and healthier your berry will be. When the plant becomes root bound its growth will slow, at that point it is time for a larger pot.
Aristotelia chilensis is an evergreen Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 5 m (16ft). It is hardy to zone (UK) 8 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower in May, and the seeds ripen from August to September.
