PLANT OF THE MONTH
June 2020 — Chilean Lantern Tree
Common Name: Chilean Lantern Tree
Latin Name: Crinodendron hookerianum
Family: Elaeocarpaceae
Type: Evergreen flowering shrub
Origin: Chile, South America
Location at Bloedel Reserve: Gatehouse beds
Garden Uses: Specimen tree, screening, hummingbird attractor
Fun Fact: The Chilean Lantern Tree is a favorite of the Bloedel Reserve staff and hummingbirds alike. In fact, a surprise dive bomb and rapid chatter from the birds will often be the first signals that this plant is in bloom! The scientific name comes from a compound of Greek words meaning, “lily tree.” The second half of its Latin name “hookerianum,” honors William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865), a renowned English botanist and director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, who collected, studied, and catalogued many plants from around the world.