A striking purple-leaved selection of the New Zealand native Akeake, prized for its rich burgundy foliage, dense branching habit, and exceptional toughness. Purple Akeake is an outstanding choice for hedging, screening, coastal gardens, and contemporary landscapes, providing year-round colour while thriving in exposed conditions.
🌱 Plant Facts
• Growth habit: Dense shrub or small tree with spreading, ascending branches
• Foliage: Rich purple to burgundy leaves year-round
• Flowers: Small cream to red flower clusters
• Fruit: Decorative winged seed capsules
• Growth rate: Fast
• Height: 3–12 m
🌍 Natural Habitat
• Derived from the naturally widespread Dodonaea viscosa, which occurs in:
• Coastal dunes and beaches
• Coastal scrub
• Lowland forest
• Offshore islands
• Open, sunny coastal habitats
🌿 Growing Environment
• Full sun
• Wind tolerant
• Coastal tolerant
• Salt tolerant
• Free-draining soils
Performs best in full sun where the foliage develops its richest purple colouring. Exceptionally well suited to exposed sites and coastal conditions but should not be planted in permanently waterlogged soils.
📍 Distribution
• A cultivated purple selection of the New Zealand native Dodonaea viscosa
• Suitable for planting throughout New Zealand
🌾 Uses
• Hedging and screening
• Shelterbelts
• Riparian plantings
• Coastal restoration
• Feature shrub
• Contemporary landscape planting
🪴 Cultivation Notes (Live Plant)
A fast-growing and highly resilient shrub that establishes quickly and requires minimal maintenance once established. Its colourful foliage makes it a superb alternative to traditional hedging plants, while its tolerance of wind, salt spray, and dry conditions makes it ideal for exposed sites. Young plants benefit from protection against heavy frosts during their first few winters. Plant in full sun for the best foliage colour and growth.
📏 Approximate product size:
• PB3/4 (5–20 cm, 350 ml)
• PB3 (20–70 cm, 1.5 L)
• PB8 (50 cm+, 3.5 L)
• PB18 (1 m+, 8.5 L)
• PB40 (2 m+, 18.5 L)
⏱️ Timeframe:
We ship Monday – Wednesday for South Island customers and Monday/Tuesday for Rural and North Island customers. Orders placed outside these days will be fulfilled the following week.
📦 Local pick ups and/or deliveries will be made by arrangement.
🌱 We’ll donate $1 per plant sold to national conservation efforts, helping to protect and restore New Zealand’s natural heritage.
A striking purple-leaved selection of the New Zealand native Akeake, prized for its rich burgundy foliage, dense branching habit, and exceptional toughness. Purple Akeake is an outstanding choice for hedging, screening, coastal gardens, and contemporary landscapes, providing year-round colour while thriving in exposed conditions.
🌱 Plant Facts
• Growth habit: Dense shrub or small tree with spreading, ascending branches
• Foliage: Rich purple to burgundy leaves year-round
• Flowers: Small cream to red flower clusters
• Fruit: Decorative winged seed capsules
• Growth rate: Fast
• Height: 3–12 m
🌍 Natural Habitat
• Derived from the naturally widespread Dodonaea viscosa, which occurs in:
• Coastal dunes and beaches
• Coastal scrub
• Lowland forest
• Offshore islands
• Open, sunny coastal habitats
🌿 Growing Environment
• Full sun
• Wind tolerant
• Coastal tolerant
• Salt tolerant
• Free-draining soils
Performs best in full sun where the foliage develops its richest purple colouring. Exceptionally well suited to exposed sites and coastal conditions but should not be planted in permanently waterlogged soils.
📍 Distribution
• A cultivated purple selection of the New Zealand native Dodonaea viscosa
• Suitable for planting throughout New Zealand
🌾 Uses
• Hedging and screening
• Shelterbelts
• Riparian plantings
• Coastal restoration
• Feature shrub
• Contemporary landscape planting
🪴 Cultivation Notes (Live Plant)
A fast-growing and highly resilient shrub that establishes quickly and requires minimal maintenance once established. Its colourful foliage makes it a superb alternative to traditional hedging plants, while its tolerance of wind, salt spray, and dry conditions makes it ideal for exposed sites. Young plants benefit from protection against heavy frosts during their first few winters. Plant in full sun for the best foliage colour and growth.
📏 Approximate product size:
• PB3/4 (5–20 cm, 350 ml)
• PB3 (20–70 cm, 1.5 L)
• PB8 (50 cm+, 3.5 L)
• PB18 (1 m+, 8.5 L)
• PB40 (2 m+, 18.5 L)
⏱️ Timeframe:
We ship Monday – Wednesday for South Island customers and Monday/Tuesday for Rural and North Island customers. Orders placed outside these days will be fulfilled the following week.
📦 Local pick ups and/or deliveries will be made by arrangement.
🌱 We’ll donate $1 per plant sold to national conservation efforts, helping to protect and restore New Zealand’s natural heritage.
