New Zealand broadleaf - Griselinia littoralis

The Griselinia littoralis, also known as New Zealand broadleaf or English privet, is an evergreen bush ideal for coastal gardens. With its shimmering apple green foliage, rapid growth, and dense habit, it is resistant to summer drought and sea spray, making it one of the most planted species for windbreak hedges. Its discreet but highly fragrant spring flowers are followed by black berries when the female plants reach maturity. Although hardy down to -10°C, this bush will appreciate a sheltered position from dry and cold winds, and is best grown in a pot that can be stored away during winter in regions prone to heavy frosts.

The Griselinia littoralis is a bush belonging to the Cornaceae family, similar to dogwoods. It is native to New Zealand and grows in the forests along the coast up to 900m (2952.8 ft) above sea level. While it can grow into a tree with multiple trunks reaching a height of 12m (39.4 ft) in its natural environment, it will not exceed 3m (9.8 ft) in height and 2.5m (6.6 ft) in width under our climates, and will remain even smaller when grown in pots. Its habit is upright, densely bushy, and almost as wide as tall. It has a fast growth rate in slightly acidic and deep soil, around 30cm (11.8 in) per year. In very alkaline soil, its growth will be significantly reduced. Its trunk and branches, quite flexible, are covered with a smooth yellow-green bark when young, becoming greyish-ochre and fissured over time. The foliage, which is more or less evergreen depending on the severity of the winter, consists of upright, ovate, incurved leaves measuring 4 to 12cm (4.7 in) in length. The texture of the young leaves is delicate and flexible. They become thick, almost succulent, leathery, and glossy when mature. Their colour is a bright acidic green, similar to that of a Granny Smith apple, with a glossy finish. The flowering, in May-June, is more abundant in full sun but still not very noticeable: it takes the form of small axillary panicles composed of about a hundred small petal-less flowers in green-yellow colour. Although often overlooked, it attracts many pollinating insects that harvest rich pollen. As this bush is dioecious, only the female plants will bear fruits, provided a male plant is planted nearby. These clusters of fruits comprise small ovoid berries, initially green, which turn black when ripe and contain only one seed.

Well adapted to coastal areas, Griselinia littoralis is often used to create hedges at the edge of gardens to protect them from wind and prying eyes. It also thrives in containers, which can be placed on a terrace or balcony. This cultivation method allows gardeners in colder regions to protect it from severe cold in an unheated greenhouse or conservatory during winter. Its height will be smaller in containers, but the plant will quickly fill the available space by spreading out. In the ground, it can also be used as a shrubbery, either alone or in combination with other evergreen bushes such as purple laurel, Photinia Pink Marble, Elaeagnus, evergreen Ceanothus, or Pittosporum. It will also help create a dense screen facing the prevailing winds on a terrace.