Griselinea Littoralis

Griselinia littoralis (Kapuka / New Zealand Broadleaf)

Plant Details

Plant Name	Common Names	Family	Origin	Type
Griselinia littoralis	Kapuka, NZ Broadleaf, Broadleaf	Griseliniaceae	Aotearoa New Zealand	Evergreen shrub/tree

Overview

A classic, fast-establishing New Zealand native for neat, year-round hedging and coastal shelter. Griselinia littoralis has glossy, apple-green leaves, forms a dense screen with regular trimming, and tolerates wind and salt spray—ideal for coastal and urban gardens alike.

Key Features

• Foliage: Large, thick, glossy light-green leaves; clean look; excellent year-round colour.

• Flowers & Fruit: Discreet greenish flowers in spring. Female plants can carry small purple-black drupes that attract birds (fruiting requires nearby male).

• Form & Habit: Naturally upright and bushy; responds very well to trimming for tight hedges or clipped forms.

• Growth Rate: Moderate to fast in good conditions; quick to fill as a hedge.

• Cultural/Ecological Value: NZ native; highly tolerant of coastal exposure and wind; nectar/pollen for insects, berries for birds (on female plants).

Mature Size

Height	Spread	Form
3–6 m untrimmed (often kept 1–3 m as a hedge)	2–4 m untrimmed (pruned narrower for hedges)	Dense, upright, multi-branched

Ideal Growing Conditions

Light	Water	Soil	pH	Frost Tolerance
Full sun to partial shade	Moderate; drought-tolerant once established	Free-draining; tolerates coastal and sandy soils; avoid waterlogged sites	Slightly acidic to neutral to slightly alkaline	Hardy once established; protect young plants from severe frost/wind-burn

Landscaping & Garden Uses

• Premium hedge/screen (formal or natural); privacy for driveways, boundaries, courtyards.

• Coastal gardens and windbreaks; tolerant of salt and exposure.

• Evergreen structure for mixed native plantings; clips well for topiary or shaped features.

• Useful as a backdrop for flowering shrubs and perennials.

Care & Maintenance

• Planting/Spacing (hedge): 60–100 cm apart depending on how fast you want it to knit; closer for a faster, tighter hedge.

• Feeding: Light application of controlled-release fertiliser in spring; mulch annually to conserve moisture.

• Pruning: Trim 2–3 times during the growing season to maintain a crisp, dense face; heavier shape in late winter/early spring.

• Watering: Regular watering through the first summer; then generally low-care.

• Health: Avoid poorly drained soils to reduce root issues. Shelter very young plants from extreme frost or drying winds.

Additional Tips

• For fruit/berries, plant male and female plants nearby (dioecious species).

• In very exposed coastal sites, stake young plants and use a wind-break cloth for the first season.

Fun Fact

The Māori name kapuka refers to the plant’s smooth, glossy leaves—one reason it’s been a favourite shelter/hedge species around coastal pā and homesteads.

Why Choose Griselinia littoralis?

• NZ native, fast to establish, easy to clip, salt/wind tolerant, and reliably evergreen—a top choice for low-maintenance, good-looking hedges.

Pot Size

• These are our standard size in 7cm square pots.