Pseudopanax K.Koch

Greek pseudo — false, Panax.

Trees or shrubs with foliage differing in several phases, the stems sometimes with unusual, backwardly bent leaves. Leaves simple or palmately compound, margins entire or toothed. Flower clusters mostly terminal. Flowers with stalks jointed at the top. Petals and stamens 4 or 5. Ovary 2-5-chambered. Fruit inferior, with 2-5 seeds.

Grown, sometimes in tubs, for the unusual architectural thick leaves.

Seed or semi-hardwood cuttings.

Shrubs or small trees with thick, fleshy, sometimes bizarre leaves; flower stalks jointed below the ovary, which has 3-5 chambers.

12 species from Tasmania, New Zealand and Chile, with a centre of distribution in New Zealand.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Araliaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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Hybrid cultivars

Pseudopanax 'Cyril Watson'

Habit compact, with thick 3-5-lobed leaves.

A hybrid, probably P. crassifolius × P. lessonii, originating from the Duncan and Davies Nursery, New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Often grown as an indoor or tub plant.

Pseudopanax 'Purpureus'

Foliage rich bronze-purple.

Possibly a hybrid, P. discolor × P. lessonii.

kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Asteranae
order      Apiales
family       Araliaceae
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
species         Pseudopanax lessonii (DC.) Koch