Griselinia lucida

Akapuka

Griselinia lucida, commonly known as Akapuka, Puka, or Broadleaf, is a NZ native, evergreen shrub that features large and glossy, green leaves held somewhat densely. Small, green flowers in spring are followed by berries that ripen to dark purple and are great for attracting birds. It typically grows to 5 m high and 2 m wide and can be trimmed as necessary. This Griselinia grows best in full sun or partial shade on a well-drained site. It is tolerant of coastal conditions but does need frost protection when young. Griselinia lucida is commonly added to coastal plantings, included in a tropical garden, or clipped into a hedge. It makes for a spectacular backdrop for smaller plants and is a fantastic addition to any garden. For a Griselinia lucida hedge, space plants 50-60 cm apart.

Griselinia lucida Hedge Spacing

Growing an amazing Griselinia lucida hedge starts with determining the plant spacing. As a general guide, 50 cm between the plants is the ideal spacing for a Griselinia hedge. If you want the hedge to fill in faster, you can shorten the spacing to 40 cm. However, going wider than 50 cm will have two effects. The first is that the gap between the plants at the base will be harder to fill in and this can cause frustration. The second is that the plants will tend to grow wider rather than upward. At a closer spacing the plants compete for light, and in doing so, they push each other upwards. Therefore, The Plant Company recommends a 40-50 cm spacing to achieve an amazing Griselinia lucida hedge.