Griselinia littoralis

Griselinia littoralis

Blechnum penna-marina

Blechnum penna-marina

Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea'
Purple Akeake, Purple Hopbush, Sticky Hopbush, Soapwood
Size
ex 1.5L pots - Very large plants
Availability: Sold Out
£13.99
Quick Overview
  • Thin willow-like foliage with a purplish hue
  • Medium sized shrub to small bushy tree
  • Vigourous growth
  • Not fully hardy in UK conditions
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Dodonea viscosa 'Purpurea', Purple Akeake or Purple Hopbush, is a purple-foliaged cultivar of Dodonea viscosa, one of the most widely spread shrubs or small trees in the Southern Hemisphere. The type species has an enormous geographical range and as a consequence it has an enormous list of synonyms as testimony to botanists' attempt to describe it before it was finally acknowledged that all the geographical variants were one species.

'Purpurea' is a highly ornamental cultivar with foliage that varies from green through light greenish-red to dark purple, the variation sometimes dependent on time of year and the freshness of the growth. The long thin willow-like leaves are not especially exotic but the colour gives it an extra allure.

In New Zealand - where it is known by the Maori name of Akeake - its tough, extremely hard wood was traditionally used for weapons, paddles and digging sticks. The name Akeake is Maori for 'forever and ever' referring to its durability. Early settlers too used it for axe and spade handles. In the New Zealand landscape it is often used as a windbreak or shelter-belt or for stabilising erosion on steep hillsides. In the UK its use is restricted by its inability to withstand a typically severe UK winter and for that reason it is best experimented with in milder parts of the country only: warm sheltered urban micro-climates and south and western coastal locations.

The 'Purpurea' cultivar comes true to seed although colour does tends to vary. It originates from a naturally-occurring sport from the banks of the Wairau River in Marlborough Province.


Additional Information

Order Sapindales
Family Sapindaceae
Sub-Family Dodonaeoideae
Synonyms Dodonaea arabica, Dodonaea arborea, Dodonaea aspleniifolia var. arborescens, Dodonaea bialata, Dodonaea candolleana, Dodonaea candolleana var. minor, Dodonaea cuneata, Dodonaea cuneata var. rigida, Dodonaea dioica, Dodonaea ehrenbergii, Dodonaea eriocarpa, Dodonaea eriocarpa f. acuminata, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. amphioxea, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. confertior, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. costulata, Dodonaea eriocarpa f. decipiens, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. degeneri, Dodonaea eriocarpa f. degeneri, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. forbesii, Dodonaea eriocarpa f. galapagensis, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. glabrescens, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. hillebrandii, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. hosakana, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. lanaiensis, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. molokaiensis, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. oblonga, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. obtusior, Dodonaea eriocarpa f. obtusior, Dodonaea eriocarpa f. obtusiorgalapagensis, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. pallida, Dodonaea eriocarpa f. pallida, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. sherffii, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. skottsbergii, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. vaccinioides, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. varians, Dodonaea eriocarpa var. waimeana, Dodonaea fauriei, Dodonaea forsteri, Dodonaea illita, Dodonaea jamaicensis, Dodonaea kohautiana, Dodonaea latifolia, Dodonaea linearifolia, Dodonaea lucida, Dodonaea microcarya, Dodonaea neriifolia, Dodonaea ovata, Dodonaea pallida, Dodonaea pauca Herrera, Dodonaea paulinia, Dodonaea pentandra, Dodonaea repanda, Dodonaea sandwicensis, Dodonaea sandwicensis var. latifolia, Dodonaea sandwicensis var. simulans, Dodonaea scabra, Dodonaea spatulata, Dodonaea stenoptera, Dodonaea stenoptera var. fauriei, Dodonaea thunbergiana, Dodonaea thunbergiana var. linearis, Dodonaea viscosa var. arborescens, Dodonaea viscosa f. arborescens, Dodonaea viscosa var. aspleniifolia, Dodonaea viscosa var. candolleana, Dodonaea viscosa f. ehrenbergii, Dodonaea viscosa f. elaeagnoides, Dodonaea viscosa f. eriocarpoidea, Dodonaea viscosa var. galapagensis, Dodonaea viscosa f. hispidula, Dodonaea viscosa f. lilacina, Dodonaea viscosa f. minor, Dodonaea viscosa var. minor, Dodonaea viscosa var. obovata, Dodonaea viscosa f. repanda, Dodonaea viscosa var. spatulata, Dodonaea viscosa f. spatulata, Dodonaea viscosa subsp. spatulata, Dodonaea viscosa var. stokesiana, Dodonaea viscosa f. viridula, Dodonaea viscosa var. viscosa, Ptelea viscosa
Geographical Origin Horticultural cultivar: type species is a transoceanic species from New Zealand, Australia, Polynesia, Asia, Southern and Central America and Africa
Cultivation Moist humus-rich soil. Full sun to half-shade. Tolerates long periods of dry weather. In the UK it needs a warm location and winter protection
Eventual Height 3-4m
Eventual Spread 2m
Hardiness Not fully hardy in the UK. Needs TLC and a favourable microclimate or coastal location. Even in mild locations it is best fleeced. Can take sub-zero temperatures down to about -5C (-7C is pushing it) Will need extra care and serious fleecing in cold areas
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Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea'
Purple Akeake, Purple Hopbush, Sticky Hopbush, Soapwood
Size
ex 1.5L pots - Very large plants
£13.99
You could receive 20 Palm Points for writing a review for this product.
Add to My Wishlist Add to Compare Email to a Friend
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