Maytenus boaria
Maiten tree, Maiten Tree
(c) Murray NZ, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Murray NZ · licence
Family: Celastraceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Maytenus boaria (Maiten tree) is a non-native California shrub / tree in the Celastraceae family, recognized by Naturalized South American species; distinctive weeping habit unique within California staff-tree family.
Maiten tree is a naturalized shrub found in the San Francisco Bay Area's Alameda County in scrub regrowth at elevations of 130 to 400 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces small flowers with petals 1.5 to 3 millimeters long. Growing up to 15 meters tall with pendulous branches, it has green twigs that turn gray-brown with age. Its leaves are approximately lanceolate, 15 to 45 millimeters long with short petioles, and grow flat along the branches. The fruit is smooth and measures 6 to 9 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Naturalized South American species; distinctive weeping habit unique within California staff-tree family
Habitat and range
Habitat: Scrub regrowth
Elevation: 130-400 m
California counties: Riverside, Alameda, Marin, Butte, San Luis Obispo, Contra Costa, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Monterey
Outside California: native to Argentina, Chile
Bloom period
Maytenus boaria blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Salix: Maytenus has toothed leaves and bisexual flowers; Salix has catkins and entire leaves.; vs Umbellularia: Maytenus has small clusters in leaf joints; Umbellularia has aromatic leaves and umbel flowers.; vs Quercus: Maytenus has toothed leaves and small flower clusters; Quercus has lobed leaves and catkins.; vs Schinus: Maytenus has simple toothed leaves; Schinus has compound pinnate leaves.; vs Ulmus: Maytenus flowers are in leaf axils; Ulmus flowers cluster on bare branches before leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Maytenus boaria native to California?
No. Maytenus boaria is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Maytenus boaria bloom?
Maytenus boaria blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Maytenus boaria grow?
Maytenus boaria occurs in Riverside, Alameda, Marin, Butte, San Luis Obispo, Contra Costa, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara and other counties, at elevations of 130-400 m.
What plant family does Maytenus boaria belong to?
Maytenus boaria is in the Celastraceae family, genus Maytenus.
Is Maytenus boaria invasive in California?
Maytenus boaria is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.