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(Griselinia lucida)
Puka (Griselinia lucida)
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Jon Sullivan
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Jon Sullivan
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CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Jon Sullivan | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 | Uploader: Giantflightlessbirds | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: JS_Puka.jpg | Notes: Uploaded own work with UploadWizard |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Griselinia lucida, commonly known as Puka, is an evergreen tree or large shrub native to the coastal and lowland forests of New Zealand, where it thrives in the understory and forest margins. It can grow up to 10–15 meters tall with a distinctive form characterized by its rough, short branches that can stretch to 15 decimeters in diameter. The leaves are broad-ovate to ovate-oblong or rounded with smooth margins, thick, glossy, and yellow-green in color, measuring 5-12 cm in length and 4-5 cm in width. The asymmetrical base of the leaves is a unique feature, with one edge typically longer than the other. Arranged alternately on the stem, the leaves contribute to the plant’s lush appearance. The inconspicuous greenish flowers, borne on slim twigs, bloom from late spring to mid-summer and are followed by dark purple or black berries, 6-7 mm long, that appear in mid-summer and ripen from autumn to winter.
Puka is valued for its dense foliage and is often used as a windbreak or hedge in coastal and exposed sites due to its tolerance to wind. It is also suitable for urban planting and as a specimen tree in large gardens. This plant prefers full sun to part shade and can tolerate a range of soil conditions, but it thrives in well-drained soils. While it requires medium to low amounts of water once established, it is important to provide regular watering during its establishment phase. Puka is relatively low-maintenance, but it can be susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils.CC BY-SA 4.0
Puka is valued for its dense foliage and is often used as a windbreak or hedge in coastal and exposed sites due to its tolerance to wind. It is also suitable for urban planting and as a specimen tree in large gardens. This plant prefers full sun to part shade and can tolerate a range of soil conditions, but it thrives in well-drained soils. While it requires medium to low amounts of water once established, it is important to provide regular watering during its establishment phase. Puka is relatively low-maintenance, but it can be susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Shrub, Tree
- Height: 6-12 feet
- Width: 6-15 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium, Low
- Drainage: Fast
Common Uses
Hedges, Low Maintenance
Natural Habitat
Coastal and lowland forests of New Zealand
Other Names
Common Names: Akapuka, Shining Broadleaf
Scientific Names: , Griselinia lucida, Griselinia lucida var. macrophylla, Scopolia lucida,
GBIF Accepted Name: Griselinia lucida (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) G.Forst.