Griselinia Whenuapai (Kapuka) – Compact NZ Native Hedge Plant with Glossy Green Foliage

Growing Griselinia Whenuapai in NZ

Griselinia Whenuapai is a fast-growing, NZ native shrub that carries very aesthetic, glossy, dark green leaves. The foliage on this evergreen is held densely as it grows to 3 m tall and 2 m wide. Best results with this Broadleaf are achieved when it is grown in full sun or partial shade on a well-drained site. It is tolerant of wind, coastal conditions, dry periods, cool climates, and frost.

How to grow a Griselinia Whenuapai hedge in NZ

Growing an amazing Griselinia Whenuapai hedge in NZ starts with determining the plant spacing. As a general guide, 50 cm between the plants is the ideal spacing for a Griselinia hedge. If you want the hedge to fill in faster, you can shorten the spacing to 40 cm. Make sure you use a string line to get the hedge straight. Start clipping the hedge from a young age. Each time the tip of a branch is removed, the buds below it will sprout. The advice is therefore to trim little and often to achieve a dense hedge that is uniform and highly aesthetic. Finally, make sure the soil is well-drained otherwise all your efforts for growing the hedge could be wasted.

What is the Griselinia Whenuapai planting distance?

The planting distance for Griselinia Whenuapai when growing a hedge is 50 cm between the plants. If you want the hedge to fill in faster, you can shorten the spacing to 40 cm. However, going wider than 50 cm will have two effects. The first is that the gap between the plants at the base will be harder to fill in and this can cause frustration. The second is that the plants will tend to grow wider rather than upward. At a closer spacing the plants compete for light, and in doing so, they push each other upwards. If you are wanting discrete plants, i.e., not a hedge, the recommended planting distance is four metres apart.

What is the Griselinia Whenuapai growth rate?

The growth rate of Griselinia Whenuapai depends on where it is positioned and how well it is cared for. In a warm climate with good growing conditions, it will grow to 3 m tall and 2 m wide in about 8-10 years. Where anything impedes the growth such as drought, wind exposure, cold climates it will grow at a slower rate. While this tree can grow to 3 m tall, it is often clipped to smaller sizes and often into a hedge. Overall, the growth rate is considered medium-fast relative to other NZ native plants.

What are the landscaping uses for Griselinia Whenuapai in NZ?

Griselinia Whenuapai is a popular choice in landscaping projects in NZ. It makes a wonderfully dense hedge and a fantastic screen, but also makes for a lovely specimen. It is also well suited to being a colourful backdrop for smaller plants. It is the gorgeous foliage and versatility of this plant that makes it a popular choice in landscaping.

Griselinia Whenuapai for sale

The Plant Company has the best Griselinia Whenuapai for sale in NZ. Our production nursery specialises in growing amazing plants and our logistics team pack them carefully for our customers. The pricing is competitive and the quality is exceptional. Let us look after your plant needs and impress you with both our products and service!

Griselinia Whenuapai problems and diseases

Griselinia Whenuapai can experience problems from time to time. The most common disease is root rot which is a fungal disease that thrives in waterlogged soil. It attacks the roots, preventing the plant from taking up water and nutrients. Symptoms include wilting, yellowing leaves, and dieback. To prevent root rot, ensure your Griselinia is planted in well-draining soil and avoid overwatering. Leaf spot is a fungal disease that causes dark spots to appear on the leaves. It's more common in humid conditions. To prevent leaf spot, ensure good air circulation around the plants and remove any fallen leaves. These two problems account for about 95% of the issues but are easily controlled or prevented.