Botanical name:

Schefflera digitata

Common name(s):

Pate, Seven Finger

About:

Pate is an attractive and appealing spreading tree. It is commonly found in damp forests, where it naturally flourishes, so when cultivated in gardens or landscapes, they thrive best in a shady and sheltered position that offers good, moist soil. The large, lush green leaves are composed of up to nine oval leaflets that all arise from a single central point. These leaflets progressively get larger as they radiate outward, and their margins are finely serrated—tinged with an eye-catching pinkish-red hue, as are the delicate veins and prominent midribs. During the summer months, large panicles of tiny greenish-white flowers hang gracefully below the leaves, which are subsequently followed by clusters of berries that range in colour from white to purple.

Natural habitat:

Lowland to montane forest from sea level up to 1000m.

Growing environment:

Sun, Shade, Wind & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

Widespread throughout New Zealand’s North, South and Stewart Islands.

Height: 3m

Flowering: 

December - March with a greenish white coloured flowers

Fruiting:

February - March with white to purple berries.

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant & Forests

How to grow:

Easily grown from fresh seed.

** Seed germinates without pre treatment. 4 weeks cold stratification will help speed this up though