Pseudopanax

( soo - doh - PAN - acks )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of evergreen shrubs and trees includes species which need sun or shade and regular water to perform well in the landscape. They are native to New Zealand where they thrive in forests and brushlands. Flowers are inconspicuous; these plants are grown primarily for their handsome foliage. They need attentive care to survive in most climates outside of their native range. Use them as architectural landscape trees, structural screening plants, or striking container specimens on patios or walkways due to their unique foliage and upright forms.

Pseudopanax Species and Varietals

The genus Pseudopanax includes just 7 species and is a member of the plant family Araliaceae. The plants in this genus are closely related to those in Aralia, Hedera (English Ivy), Schefflera (Umbrella Tree), Panax (Ginseng), and Fatsia (Japanese Aralia). The genus name is Latin for 'false ginseng'. Pseudopanax growing zones vary depending on the species cultivated. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Pseudopanax crassifolius (Lance-Wood, Lancewood, Horoeka)
This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 8-11 or Sunset growing zones 16, 17 and 21-24. It forms a tree 50 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Before it reaches its mature size it is usually seen as a somewhat gangly, single-stemmed plant 3-5 feet tall and 8-10 inches wide. Leaves are drooping and toothed, dark green above and deep purple underneath with a purple or orange midrib on the top when new. This is a perfect plant for narrow areas of the garden.

Pseudopanax ferox (Fierce Lance-Wood, Toothed Lance Wood, Fierce Lancewood, Horoeka)
This species grows in USDA hardiness zones 8b-10b or Sunset growing zones 16, 17 and 21-24. They reach 10-12 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide at maturity. On young plants, leaves are deeply toothed, dark green to black green above and bronze underneath with a midrib that is either brown, orange or red. Mature leaves are short, wide, and smooth.

Caring for Pseudopanax

Plant Pseudopanax shrubs in a place where they won't receive too much direct sun, especially during the warmest hours of the day. Too much direct sun can scorch leaves. Protect them from extreme cold or heat, as well; a sheltered location in the landscape is usually recommended. Ensure that soil is well-draining with a pH of between 5.6 and 7.5. Pseudopanax likes humid conditions; locate your shrub in an area that doesn't get much wind (but still gets good air circulation), and mist with a spray bottle to mimic humid conditions. Prune occasionally to maintain shape and size in spring or early summertime. Remove any dead or damaged growth, and cut back main branches to encourage a bushier habit. These shrubs react positively to pruning, and will bounce back quickly.

Propagation

Pseudopanax can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. Many species of Pseudopanax are dioecious; for seeds to be viable, there must be a male and female plant in proximity. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Pseudopanax by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much. Water, ensuring good drainage is occurring, and place your cuttings in an area that receives bottom heat.
Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Pseudopanax by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your fruit. They are pretty easy to spot on the shrub, they're left behind after flowers have faded (see image below for a visual). Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area until you're ready to work with them. These seeds can either be planted as fruits (which may result in uneven germination), or be removed from their fruit and planted.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.