Griselinia littoralis

Kapuka
Kapuka leaves and flowers
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Apiales
Family:	Griseliniaceae
Genus:	Griselinia
Species:	G. littoralis
Binomial name
Griselinia littoralis Raoul

Griselinia littoralis, commonly known as Kapuka or New Zealand broadleaf,^[1] is a fast-growing small to medium-sized evergreen tree growing up to 20 m (66 ft) tall, though generally 4–8 m (13–26 ft) particularly in coastal exposure. It is native to New Zealand, where it typically grows in coastal locations (the Latin littoralis means "growing by the sea").^[2] It is widely cultivated both in New Zealand and in other areas with mild oceanic climates such as the south coast of Great Britain, where it is valued for its tolerance of salt carried on sea gales,^[3] and thus often grown as a hedge or screen.

The leaves are alternate, leathery, glossy yellow-green above, paler and matte below, 6–14 cm (2–6 in) long, oval with a smooth margin. The flowers are borne on 2–5 cm (1–2 in) long panicles, each panicle with 50-100 individual flowers, each flower 3–4 mm across, greenish-yellow with five sepals and stamens but no petals. The fruit is a small blackish berry.

This plant^[4] and the variegated cultivar 'Variegata'^[5] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

References

Wikispecies has information related to: Griselinia littoralis