Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Trees

Pseudopanax chathamicus

Chatham Island lancewood

A slow-growing, evergreen tree to 7m tall, initially unbranched but later developing a branching, oval to round head. Juvenile leaves are narrow, leathery and up to 15cm long whilst adult leaves are thicker and more variable in shape. Small, green flowers are arranged in terminal umbels and may be followed by very dark purple fruits

Other common names

hoho

Save to My plants

Buy this plant

Plant nurseries
2 suppliers

Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

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)

Botanical details

Family: Araliaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Pseudopanax are upright evergreen shrubs or trees, with simple or palmate leaves, often with a distinct juvenile form; inconspicuous green flowers, the sexes usually on separate trees, may be followed on female plants by berry-like fruits
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Chatham Islands

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil in a sheltered, sunny or part-shaded position with shelter from cold, drying winds

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in autumn or spring, or by semi-ripe cuttings or by air layering

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Coastal
City and courtyard gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.