Azara

Azara is a genus of flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to subtropical and temperate regions of South America. The genus was formerly placed in Flacourtiaceae and is named in honor of the Spanish naturalist Félix de Azara, who studied South American flora and fauna.

Azara species are deciduous shrubs or small to medium-sized trees. They typically have simple, alternate leaves that are oval to lanceolate with smooth margins. The flowers are small and often arranged in axillary or terminal panicles; they are usually greenish or yellowish and frequently fragrant, attracting pollinators. The fruit is a small dry capsule containing seeds.

The genus has a South American distribution, with species occurring from central Argentina and Chile through Uruguay and southern Brazil into parts of Bolivia and Peru. They are typically found in open forests, woodland margins, and along riverbanks, at elevations ranging from near sea level to several thousand meters depending on the species.

In cultivation, Azara species are grown as ornamentals in temperate regions where winters are not severe. They are valued for their foliage and fragrant flowers in spring or early summer. They tolerate a range of soils but prefer well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade.

Notable species include Azara integrifolia and Azara microphylla, among others, each with its own regional distribution. The genus represents a modest but distinctive component of South American flora and is of interest to horticulture for its fragrance and silhouette.