Dodonaea viscosa

RHS Plant Profile
hop bush

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hop bush Dorling Kindersley 2003
hop bush RHS

Other common names

akeake, native hops, switch sorrel of Jamaica

Synonyms

Dodonaea cuneata

Conservatory Greenhouse Shrubs
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A large evergreen shrub with elliptic or obovate, often purplish leaves to 12cm in length, and clusters of tiny yellowish-green flowers, followed by membranous, reddish, 2- or 3-winged capsules 1.5cm in length

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height
2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H2

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Sapindaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
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
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow 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. Top dress in spring. Pinch out tips of young growth to encourage bushy growth

Propagation

Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to red spider mite under glass

Diseases

Generally disease-free