About

An evergreen, variable shrub or small tree to 5m tall. Wavy-margined, elliptic to oblong leaves up to 13cm long are a deep reddish-purple. Insignificant summer flowers are followed by pinkish-red winged fruits.

About the genus

Dodonaea are evergreen dioecious shrubs with simple or pinnate, needle-like to ovate leaves and insignificant flowers followed on female plants by membranous angled or winged fruits

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3

Plant details

Plant typeShrubs, Trees
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height4-8 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Sub-tropical

Care notes

CultivationGrow outdoors in moist but well-drained soil in full sun in a sheltered frost-free area. Grow under glass in a peat-free, loam-based compost in full light
PruningPruning group 1; pinch out tips of young shoots to encourage bushy growth
PropagationPropagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly under glass
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free