Pseudopanax crassifolius. Lancewood, horoeka
Pseudopanax crassifolius. Lancewood, horoeka
Everyone in New Zealand can recognise the Lancewood tree in the early stages of its life. The narrow, toothed downward pointing leaves are distinctive. The adult tree is less readily identified yet makes an interesting small tree for the garden and it is particularly good for ultra small gardens or makes continental style landscapes.
The Lancewood actually goes through four stages of growth – two juvenile stages an intermediate stage and the adult stage. The first stage is the seedling stage, when the leaves are rounded or have very deeply toothed leaves. Very quickly the seedling passes into the popular second stage. The long lanceolate leaves can be up to 90 cm long and only 2cm wide. The leaves are rigid, leathery and a dark olive green colour with an obvious orange or yellow mid rib. The third or intermediate stage is when the main stem starts branching and the new leaves become shorter and erect rather than downward pointing. The fourth stage is when the tree forms a round bushy head. Metcalf (1987) suggests it takes up to 15 years to grow from seedling to mature tree. This might be true in nature but in good garden conditions 10 years would be more accurate.
In its mature state it produces terminal umbels of insignificant flowers followed by small dark round fruit. The fruit is eaten by birds which distribute the seeds where ever they travel. The seeds germinate readily and it is common to find many seedlings not too far from the tree.
Apart from the leaves the single narrow trunk is interesting with its wavelike bark structure is different from the smooth round trunks of other trees. As it fully matures all the juvenile leaves fall off leaving a small round headed tree ideal for all gardens. It is an under-utilized small tree in the landscape.
The flowers and fruit are insignificant in the overall aesthetics of the tree. They appear in small umbels and individual flowers have no petals. The fruit is about the size and colour of a small black olive.
Over the years nurserymen and plant breeders have hybridised P. crassifolius with P. arboreus to produce a range of attractive hybrids. Sometimes these are offered as a group of hybrids through selected forms are propagated by cuttings and sold as a named Cultivar.
This exotic looking tree is unusual in the world of plants and has taken a special place in many gardens because of its juvenile foliage. However it is also a very good landscape plant in its adult form as well. Occasionally they have been used as street trees and could easily be used more often. They are wind and drought resistant, very strong and somewhat exotic looking.
It is found throughout NZ growing from sea level to about 750m and is very common.
The name Pseudopanax is derived from two words ‘pseudo’ meaning false meaning ‘not a tree’ and panax which means "all-healing" in Greek in reference to the tree's likeness to Gingsing (Panax quinquefolium) and other species which are tropical ornamental leaved shrubs. It belongs to the family Araliaceae and is related to a range of foliage plants used in conservatories and in gardens. Crassifolius means thick leaved a reference to its strong thick leaves.
It was introduced to the UK in 1846. It was discovered on Cooks first voyage to NZ. Dr Solander, who was on that voyage, called the young form Xerophylla lognifolia and the mature form Aralia crassifolius. Even in 1867 Sir Joseph Banks, Director of Kew Gardens and also onCooks first voyage to NZ, and one of the great systematic botanists had the mature form named Panax crassifolius and the juvenile form Panax longissimum. After growing the plants in cultivation and for many years’ botanists recognised that it really was one species that goes through this complicated juvenile growth stages.
Dr Leonard Cockayne, an early NZ botanist and ecologist, theorized that the NZ climate has changed over the millions of years due to a much stronger fern wind (warm strong wind) from the North West over the mountains making the east coast much dryer requiring the plants to adapt with thick leaves for drought resistance and a strong flexible trunk which can be bent almost horizontal and bounce back to straight.
Whatever reasons this plant developed these stages of growth is recognised as a great plant for gardens, parks and open spaces as well as its natural habitat.
Everyone in New Zealand can recognise the Lancewood tree in the early stages of its life. The narrow, toothed downward pointing leaves are distinctive. The adult tree is less readily identified yet makes an interesting small tree for the garden and it is particularly good for ultra small gardens or makes continental style landscapes.
The Lancewood actually goes through four stages of growth – two juvenile stages an intermediate stage and the adult stage. The first stage is the seedling stage, when the leaves are rounded or have very deeply toothed leaves. Very quickly the seedling passes into the popular second stage. The long lanceolate leaves can be up to 90 cm long and only 2cm wide. The leaves are rigid, leathery and a dark olive green colour with an obvious orange or yellow mid rib. The third or intermediate stage is when the main stem starts branching and the new leaves become shorter and erect rather than downward pointing. The fourth stage is when the tree forms a round bushy head. Metcalf (1987) suggests it takes up to 15 years to grow from seedling to mature tree. This might be true in nature but in good garden conditions 10 years would be more accurate.
In its mature state it produces terminal umbels of insignificant flowers followed by small dark round fruit. The fruit is eaten by birds which distribute the seeds where ever they travel. The seeds germinate readily and it is common to find many seedlings not too far from the tree.
Apart from the leaves the single narrow trunk is interesting with its wavelike bark structure is different from the smooth round trunks of other trees. As it fully matures all the juvenile leaves fall off leaving a small round headed tree ideal for all gardens. It is an under-utilized small tree in the landscape.
The flowers and fruit are insignificant in the overall aesthetics of the tree. They appear in small umbels and individual flowers have no petals. The fruit is about the size and colour of a small black olive.
Over the years nurserymen and plant breeders have hybridised P. crassifolius with P. arboreus to produce a range of attractive hybrids. Sometimes these are offered as a group of hybrids through selected forms are propagated by cuttings and sold as a named Cultivar.
This exotic looking tree is unusual in the world of plants and has taken a special place in many gardens because of its juvenile foliage. However it is also a very good landscape plant in its adult form as well. Occasionally they have been used as street trees and could easily be used more often. They are wind and drought resistant, very strong and somewhat exotic looking.
It is found throughout NZ growing from sea level to about 750m and is very common.
The name Pseudopanax is derived from two words ‘pseudo’ meaning false meaning ‘not a tree’ and panax which means "all-healing" in Greek in reference to the tree's likeness to Gingsing (Panax quinquefolium) and other species which are tropical ornamental leaved shrubs. It belongs to the family Araliaceae and is related to a range of foliage plants used in conservatories and in gardens. Crassifolius means thick leaved a reference to its strong thick leaves.
It was introduced to the UK in 1846. It was discovered on Cooks first voyage to NZ. Dr Solander, who was on that voyage, called the young form Xerophylla lognifolia and the mature form Aralia crassifolius. Even in 1867 Sir Joseph Banks, Director of Kew Gardens and also onCooks first voyage to NZ, and one of the great systematic botanists had the mature form named Panax crassifolius and the juvenile form Panax longissimum. After growing the plants in cultivation and for many years’ botanists recognised that it really was one species that goes through this complicated juvenile growth stages.
Dr Leonard Cockayne, an early NZ botanist and ecologist, theorized that the NZ climate has changed over the millions of years due to a much stronger fern wind (warm strong wind) from the North West over the mountains making the east coast much dryer requiring the plants to adapt with thick leaves for drought resistance and a strong flexible trunk which can be bent almost horizontal and bounce back to straight.
Whatever reasons this plant developed these stages of growth is recognised as a great plant for gardens, parks and open spaces as well as its natural habitat.