Kāpuka (griselinia)
New Zealand's most widely planted native hedging shrub - glossy, bright lime-green foliage, fast growth and genuine hardiness nationwide, including in exposed and coastal sites. Left untrimmed it can reach 10m as a small tree, but as a maintained hedge it's easily kept at 1.5-3m. Flowers are small and inconspicuous.
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- low
- Spacing
- 50cm
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Mature height
- 10m
- Attracts wildlife
- Silvereye/tauhou
- Evergreen
- Yes
- Common pests
- Thrips
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: March-April and September-November. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September-November.
Growing stages
Planting & establishmentFirst few months
- Water while establishing; low water need develops once settled, even in exposed coastal sites
- Full sun brings out the best glossy lime-green foliage colour
Early growthFirst 1-2 years
- Watch for thrips on new growth
- Fast-growing, so start trimming early if keeping it as a hedge rather than letting it grow into a small tree
Maturity
- As New Zealand's most widely planted native hedge, most gardeners keep it trimmed to 1.5-3m, though a specimen left untrimmed will happily reach 10m as a small tree
- Continue checking new growth for thrips
- Silvereye make use of the dense evergreen foliage for shelter