Pseudopanax colensoi

Five Fingers Plant

The Five Fingers plant, Pseudopanax colensoi, is an evergreen, NZ native shrub that grows to about 4 m tall and 3 m wide. It has fleshy, green leaflets arranged as a fan on very short stems. The foliage is complemented with heavily scented, cream-coloured flowers through spring and autumn. These are followed by small black fruit carried as large sprays below the leaves. Best performance with this plant is achieved when grown on a well-drained site in full sun. In partial shade it tends to grow with an open habit. It is tolerant of wind, coastal environments, moderate drought, and frost once established though some protection while it establishes will produce a better plant in the longer-term. The Five Fingers plant is commonly included in a mixed planting, used in revegetation plantings, planted around outdoor living areas such as barbecue or patio areas, or used for shelter or screening. This is a popular plant owing to the mix of attractive foliage and fruits.