Griselinia is a genus of only seven evergreen shrubs and trees, native to New Zealand. The characteristic upright habit and bright, glossy evergreen leaves makes this plant a popular choice for hedging, in particular Griselinia littoralis. Tolerant of salty air, Griselinia is good choice for coastal gardens.
Planting position
Grow Griselinia littoralis in well-drained soil in full sun. It’s hardy in the UK apart from in the far north and will tolerate most soils. It’s suitable for coastal areas, but not very exposed sites.
Planting technique
If choosing Griselinia for a garden hedge, follow our step-by-step guide to planting a hedge.
Propagation
You can propagate Griselinia by taking semi-ripe cuttings. Watch our video for tips on taking semi-ripe cuttings:
Troubleshooting
Griselinia is generally a pest-free shrub but can sometimes be affected by leaf spots.
Care
Griselinia foliage can be affected by hard frosts but it’s not permanent damage and recovers well once the thermometer goes up above freezing. If you have a Griselinia hedge, it will need pruning once a year in late summer.
Griselinia varieties to try
Griselinia littoralis is a fast-growing large evergreen shrub with light green, broadly oval leaves. The inconspicuous yellow summer flowers are followed by purple fruits, if both sexes are grown together. It makes an excellent hedging plant for sheltered sites and coastal regions but isn’t hardy in exposed or northerly sites.
Griselinia ‘Dixon’s Cream’ is a variegated form with cream edges to the evergreen leaves. It will grow at a rate of around 20-40cm a year, so it is easily maintained as a hedge.
Griselinia lucida is too tender to grow in this country.
Frequently asked questions
Help! My griselinia leaves are turning black!
Griselinia can susceptible to leaf spot. This fungal infection is caused by mild, wet conditions, often in conjunction with poor air circulation. Symptoms include black-brown leaf spots on griselinia leaves, which don’t harm the plant but can look unsightly. Remove and dispose of affected leaves as soon as you see them (don’t compost them as the fungus may persist to reinfect your plants later on). Prune the hedge to thin it out and increase airflow around the leaves.
How and when do I prune a griselinia hedge?
Trim griselinia hedges from spring to early summer. They can be trimmed into a formal hedge and also respond well to hard pruning down to 15-30cm from the ground.
