Griselinia

Griselinia - There are certain exposed spots in our shore gardens where even the toughest of shrubs are apt to fail, and in this little group we have the best of all plants for such a position, thriving in any soil, and sea-wind proof. The greenish flowers are insignificant, and the fruits, like clusters of small Ivy berries, are seldom seen in this country, but the fleshy leaves are so unlike any others that these are among the most distinct of evergreens. Of compact and fairly rapid growth, they make dense bushes of 6 to 10 feet, freely branched to the ground, and of so good a shape that they may be almost left alone. Hardy as they are far into the north and near the sea, the Griselinias fail inland, save in quite the warmest places, and are tender round London even upon sheltered walls. The glossy leaves are always attractive and seldom attacked by insects, and, when safe from frost, the shoots will cover a wall where even Ivy fails. There are two species, both from New Zealand:—

Related Flowers

Griselinia Littoralis

Griselinia Littoralis - Reaches a height of 30 feet, with wedge-shaped leaves, greyish beneath, where the veins show very faintly. The appearance of the sexes (which are apart) is very different, the male plant bearing small oval leaves of dark green, with an erect habit, and the female much larger and broader leaves of yellow-green, and of a more diffuse habit.

Griselinia Lucida

Griselinia Lucida - Has very glossy pale green leaves, which are most unevenly divided by the mid-rib. It is of smaller growth than littoralis, reaching only 10 to 12 feet, with leaves more fleshy and the veins very distinct on the under side. G. macrophylla is robust natural form of this, with much larger bright green leaves, so thick as to be almost succulent. This makes a handsome bushy tree of 20 to 25 feet in the gardens of Devon and Cornwall.