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(Griselinia littoralis)
Kapuka (Griselinia littoralis)
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Penelope Noel Gillette
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Penelope Noel Gillette
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Penelope Noel Gillette | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Penelope Noel Gillette | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2017-01-08T04:02:46Z |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Griselinia littoralis, commonly known as Kapuka or New Zealand Broadleaf, is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to coastal and lowland forests in New Zealand. It can grow up to 10 meters tall and is characterized by its round shape and dense, glossy green foliage. The leaves are leathery and oval-shaped, contributing to the plant’s lush appearance. Kapuka produces inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers from late spring to mid-summer, followed by small, dark purple or black berries that are 6-7 mm long, appearing in mid-summer and ripening from autumn to winter.
Kapuka is valued for its hardiness and its ability to form a dense, attractive hedge or screen, making it a popular choice for urban planting, border planting, and as a windbreak in coastal areas. It is also used for revegetation projects due to its robust nature. The plant is relatively low maintenance, requiring little pruning and tolerating a range of soil types, though it prefers free-draining, light loamy soils. While it can withstand temperatures down to about −10 °C (14 °F) and up to 35 °C (95 °F), it thrives in areas with high rainfall. In cultivation, it does best in full sun to part shade and benefits from medium amounts of water and soils with slow to medium drainage. Potential problems include susceptibility to root rot in poorly drained soils and scale insects.CC BY-SA 4.0
Kapuka is valued for its hardiness and its ability to form a dense, attractive hedge or screen, making it a popular choice for urban planting, border planting, and as a windbreak in coastal areas. It is also used for revegetation projects due to its robust nature. The plant is relatively low maintenance, requiring little pruning and tolerating a range of soil types, though it prefers free-draining, light loamy soils. While it can withstand temperatures down to about −10 °C (14 °F) and up to 35 °C (95 °F), it thrives in areas with high rainfall. In cultivation, it does best in full sun to part shade and benefits from medium amounts of water and soils with slow to medium drainage. Potential problems include susceptibility to root rot in poorly drained soils and scale insects.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Shrub, Tree
- Height: 20-30 feet
- Width: 6-9 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Slow, Medium
Common Uses
Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Hedges, Low Maintenance, Salt Tolerant, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Coastal and lowland forests in New Zealand
Other Names
Common Names: New Zealand Broadleaf, Pāpāuma
Scientific Names: , Griselinia littoralis, Pukateria littoralis,
GBIF Accepted Name: Griselinia littoralis (Raoul) Raoul