Quillaja saponaria - Chilean Soapbark Tree

Chilean Soapbark Tree (Quillaja saponaria) is an evergreen tree from the Chilean Andes that can grow to 20m in optimal conditions. It has a long history of use with the Andean people including the use of the inner bark as soap. Today the tree is used to extract Quillaia which is used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. It’s It is rarely grown in Australian gardens, it has thick leathery leaves, dense clusters of white flowers and a unique 5 lobed seed pod.

Most specimens are confined to botanic gardens