Dodonaea viscosa ‘Purpurea’
Purple Akeake / Purple Hopbush
Description:
A hardy New Zealand native shrub or small tree with a dense, upright habit and distinctive deep red-purple to maroon foliage. The long, narrow leaves have a slight wave and provide strong foliage colour throughout the year, particularly during the cooler months. Small yellow-green to reddish flowers are followed by attractive papery, winged seed capsules. A fast-growing and resilient plant that responds well to pruning, making it an excellent choice for hedges, screening, windbreaks and as a feature plant in native and contemporary landscapes. ‘Purpurea’ is the most commonly cultivated form of Dodonaea viscosa in New Zealand.
Height:
2–4 m
Width:
2 m
Position:
Full sun to partial shade, with full sun producing the strongest foliage colour and best growth. Tolerates exposed conditions, coastal winds and dry conditions once established. It is adaptable and resilient but is frost sensitive, particularly when young.
Soil:
Well-drained soil. Tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions and relatively poor soils, provided they are not waterlogged. Performs well in dry conditions once established.
Uses:
- Screening and privacy planting
- Hedging
- Windbreaks
- Coastal gardens
- Native gardens
- Banks and slopes
- Erosion control
- Feature planting
- Foliage contrast
- Low-maintenance landscapes
- Naturalistic planting
- Containers when kept pruned
Care Tips:
- Water regularly while establishing, particularly during dry periods.
- Once established, it is tolerant of dry conditions.
- Apply mulch around the base to help retain moisture and suppress weeds, keeping mulch away from the stem.
- Feed in spring with a balanced fertiliser if required.
- Prune regularly to maintain a compact and bushy shape.
- Responds well to trimming and can be maintained as a dense hedge or screen.
- Prune harder if required to control size or rejuvenate an older plant.
- Plant in full sun for the strongest purple foliage colour.
- Ensure good drainage and avoid persistently wet or waterlogged soils.
- Protect young plants from heavy frost.
- Allow room for the plant to develop if it is not being regularly pruned.
We have made every effort to display as accurately as possible the grade and quality of the plant in the images.
Plants are subject to availability; there is a slight possibility the plants can be sold before your order is processed. In this instance we can offer a refund or credit and let you know when more plants become available.
