Vitex lucens (Puriri)

Vitex lucens (Puriri) Details

Commonly known as Puriri, this is a NZ native tree featuring colourful flowers. The tubular flowers look rather like Snapdragon flowers and range in colour from fluorescent pink to dark red, rose pink, and sometimes white. The flowers in spring are followed by red berries which, along with the nectar in the flowers, are great for attracting birds. The tree itself grows to about 10 m tall and 6 m wide with dark and glossy green foliage. It grows best when planted in full sun on a well-drained site, protected from heavy frosts. Puriri is commonly grown as a specimen, used in revegetation plantings, planted to attract birds, or added to a mixed planting in a larger garden.