Purple Akeake
Botanical name: Dodonaea viscosa ‘Purpurea’
Synonyms: Dodonaea viscosa var. purpurea
Common name(s): Purple Akeake, Purple Hopbush, Purple Hop Bush
About:
Purple Akeake is a colourful cultivated form of akeake, distinguished by its dense bronze, burgundy and purple-red foliage. The colour is strongest in full sun and often becomes especially vivid during winter. It forms a tidy, upright shrub or small tree with slender branches, decorative winged seed capsules and a naturally bushy habit that responds well to pruning.
Natural habitat:
As a selected ornamental form, Purple Akeake does not have a separate natural habitat from the green-leaved species. Its parent species occurs naturally in coastal scrub, dunes, boulder beaches, exposed forest margins and lowland forest.
Growing environment:
Best grown in full sun, which produces the richest foliage colour. It prefers moderately fertile, free-draining soil and tolerates wind, salt spray, drought and coastal exposure once established. It will grow in partial shade, although the foliage may become greener and less intensely coloured.
Endemic distribution:
A cultivated colour form of the indigenous but non-endemic species Dodonaea viscosa. It is widely grown throughout New Zealand and does not have a distinct natural distribution of its own.
Height:
Usually 2–4 m when regularly pruned, potentially reaching 5–6 m if left untrimmed
Width:
Approximately 2–2.5 m
Flowering:
Spring to summer
Fruiting:
Summer to autumn
Uses:
• Formal and informal hedging
• Screening and shelter planting
• Specimen planting
• Coastal gardens
• Contemporary landscapes
• Mixed native borders
• Background planting
• Establishment planting in revegetation projects
Appearance:
Growth habit:
An evergreen, upright shrub or small tree with slender stems and a dense, compact crown. It can be maintained as a clipped hedge or allowed to develop into a small feature tree.
Trunk/Bark:
Older stems develop reddish-brown bark that flakes away in thin, irregular strips.
Leaves:
Narrow, slightly wavy to oblong or lance-shaped leaves held densely along the branches. Foliage ranges from bronze-red to deep burgundy and purple, often becoming darker during colder weather.
Flowers:
Small, inconspicuous yellow-green, pinkish or reddish flowers are produced in loose clusters near the ends of the branches.
Fruit:
Decorative papery capsules with two to four broad wings. These are initially green to pink or crimson before ageing to amber or pale brown.
Ecology:
Purple Akeake provides shelter and cover for native birds, lizards and insects. Its flowers are wind-pollinated, while its lightweight winged capsules assist seed dispersal. As a selected cultivar, seedlings may not retain the same deep-purple foliage as the parent plant.
Associated habitats:
Coastal gardens, dry shrublands, urban native plantings, shelterbelts, exposed slopes, mixed borders and revegetation sites.
How to grow:
Plant in a sunny, well-drained position. Water regularly during establishment, then reduce watering as the plant becomes drought tolerant. Prune lightly from a young age to encourage dense growth or clip regularly to maintain a formal hedge. Space plants approximately 1–2 m apart when forming a screen or hedge.
Propagation:
Best propagated from semi-hardwood cuttings to preserve the purple foliage and growth habit. Seed can be sown, but resulting plants may vary in colour and may revert to green.
Cultural use:
Purple Akeake is derived from akeake, whose hard and durable wood was traditionally used by Māori for weapons, tools and carved implements. The cultivar itself is primarily valued for ornamental and landscape use.
Garden value:
An excellent native cultivar for adding year-round colour, height and structure to the garden. Its deep-purple foliage contrasts strongly with green and silver-leaved plants, while its tolerance of wind, drought and coastal exposure makes it both decorative and practical. It is particularly effective as a hedge, narrow screen, small feature tree or architectural accent.