An evergreen tree.The scented flowers are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required).
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires moist well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soil.
The crushed leaves are aromatic. A pleasant tasting tea is made from the fresh or dried aromatic bark. Antiasthmatic, antirheumatic, aperient, cardiac, diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative, tonic.