Pseudopanax
( soo - doh - PAN - acks )
At-A-Glance InformationThis genus of evergreen shrubs and trees needs sun or shade and regular water. They are native to New Zealand, and occur naturally in forests and brushlands. Flowers are inconspicuous; these plants are grown primarily for their handsome foliage. These shrubs are a bit difficult to grow in most locations outside their natural range, though they do well in southern California and Great Britain. Otherwise, they will need attentive care to survive.
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Pseudopanax Species and Varietals
The genus Pseudopanax includes just 7 species and is a member of the plant family Araliaceae. The genus name is Latin for 'false ginseng'. Pseudopanax is a relative of Aralia, and growing zones vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Pseudopanax crassifolius (Lance-Wood) This species grows well in zones 16, 17 and 21-24. It grows into a tree 50 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Before it reaches its peak height it is usually seen as a single-stemmed plant 3-5 feet tall and 8-10 inches wide. Leaves are drooping and toothed, dark green above and dark purple underneath with a purple or orange midrib on the top when young. They mature to a dark green color. Great plant for narrow areas. |
Pseudopanax ferox (Fierce Lance-Wood) This species grows in zones 16, 17 and 21-24. They reach 10-12 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. 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 not as attractive. |
Caring for and pruning Pseudopanax shrubs
Plant your shrub in a place where it 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. Ensure that soil is well-draining with a pH of between 5.6 and 7.5. Required pH levels will vary depending on what species is grown; refer to specific growing information on specimen tags for more information. 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. Feed with a balanced, diluted liquid fertilizer during spring and summertime following manufacturer's instructions. Prune occasionally to maintain shape and size in spring or early summertime. At this time, 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. Pseudopanax shrubs can be either grown in-ground or in containers, and can even be great houseplants.
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. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Pseudopanax by Cutting
Propagating Pseudopanax by Seed
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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- 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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- 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. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- 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.
Problems and Pests
These shrubs are susceptible to the following pests and diseases:
- Mealybugs
- Aphids
- Spider Mites
- Fungal Diseases
Gallery
Videos
All about these interesting shrubs.
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A great, informative video about Pseudopanax ferox shrubs.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 537, Pseudopanax
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