Griselinia littoralis Bantry Bay

Griselinia littoralis Bantry Bay is a variety of coastal Griselinia distinguished by its beautiful variegated yellow foliage, lower hardiness, and slightly less vigorous growth than its New Zealand ancestor. It is an evergreen bush suitable for mild climates that is sometimes called English Euonymus because of its foliage's resemblance to that of Japanese Euonymus. Shimmering in the sunlight, its dense foliage is unaffected by salt spray and provides effective wind protection. Its discreet but highly fragrant spring flowering is followed by the formation of ripe black berries on female plants. Its low hardiness limits it to coastal regions. This bush also adapts well to container cultivation, where it remains elegant.

Griselinia littoralis is a member of the cornaceae family, just like dogwoods. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it grows in forests along the coast up to 900m (2952 ft 10 in) above sea level. While it can become a true tree with multiple trunks reaching 12m (39 ft 5 in) in height in its natural environment, it will not exceed 3m (9 ft 10 in) in height and 2.50m (8 ft 2 in) in spread in our climates, and it will remain even smaller in pots. 

The 'Bantry Bay' cultivar was selected in Ireland in 1950. Its hardiness does not exceed -8°C (17.6 °F) once mature. This bush has an upright, bushy, and dense habit, reaching approximately 2.50m (8 ft 2 in) in height at maturity with a spread of 1.50m. Its growth is quite fast in slightly acidic and deep soil. In very chalky soil, growth will be greatly reduced. Its trunk and branches are fairly flexible and covered with smooth yellow-green bark when young, becoming greyish-ochre and fissured over time. The foliage is more or less evergreen depending on winter severity and consists of erect, oval, incurved leaves, ranging from 4 to 12cm (1.6 to 4.7 in) in length. The texture of the young leaves is fine and flexible, then becomes thick, almost succulent, leathery, and very glossy at maturity.  They have a variegated cream-yellow and grey-green colour, with a green margin. The flowering, in May-June, is more abundant in full sun but not very visible: it takes the form of small axillary panicles composed of about a hundred small petal-less yellow-green flowers. While often inconspicuous to our eyes, it attracts a large number of pollinating insects, which gather a good harvest of pollen. As this bush is dioecious, only female plants will bear fruits, provided a male plant is planted nearby. These clusters of fruits are composed of small ovoid, sour green berries that turn black when ripe and contain only one seed.

Well suited for coastal areas, Griselinia littoralis Bantry Bay can be used to create hedges on the garden's boundary to protect it from wind and prying eyes. The plant adapts well to container cultivation, placed on terraces or balconies. This cultivation method allows gardeners in cold regions to protect it from severe cold in an unheated greenhouse or conservatory in winter. Its height will be slightly less in pots, but the plant will quickly occupy the available space by spreading. In open ground, it can also be used in a grove, alone or combined with other evergreen bushes such as purple bay laurel, Photinia Pink Marble, Elaeagnus ebbingei, Evergreen Ceanothus or Pittosporum. It will also be very useful for creating a dense screen at the edge of a terrace, facing prevailing winds.