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© Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man). Location credit to the Chanticleer Garden., some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA) · Wikimedia Commons
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Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea'
purple hop bush
Australia and warm regions worldwide; cultivar of garden origin
Drought Tolerant
Native to North America
Overview
Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea' is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the Sapindaceae family, selected from the widespread species Dodonaea viscosa for its purple foliage. It grows 6.5-13 feet (2-4 m) tall and 5-10 feet (1.5-3 m) wide, with an upright, sometimes multi-stemmed form. The narrow lance-shaped leaves are 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long, glossy and bronze-green in summer, deepening to deep purple-bronze in cold weather; the purple colour is strongest in full sun and winter, whereas the green-leaved species lacks this pigment. Leaves and young stems are sticky to the touch from a resinous coating. The plant is dioecious, with separate male and female plants; female plants carry papery, three-winged seed capsules about 0.5-0.8 inch (1.5-2 cm) wide that turn pink to reddish-brown and resemble hops. The flowers themselves are small and greenish, without petals. It is fast-growing, wind- and salt-tolerant, and drought tolerant once established, though it is shorter-lived than many shrubs, often 10-15 years. It tolerates light frost to about 25F (-4C). The purple foliage colour varies between seed-grown plants, so named clones are propagated from cuttings.
Native Range
Dodonaea viscosa is a widely distributed shrub, native across Australia and through tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, the Americas, and Asia. The cultivar 'Purpurea' was selected in cultivation and is propagated from cuttings rather than occurring in the wild.Suggested Uses
Grown as an informal screen, windbreak, hedge, and contrast shrub for foliage colour, spaced 5-8 feet (1.5-2.4 m) apart. It suits coastal and low-water gardens and tolerates urban conditions. The purple foliage is also cut for floral arrangements.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6'6" - 13'
Width/Spread5' - 10'
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Bloom Information
The greenish petalless flowers are small and open in spring. On female plants, papery three-winged seed capsules follow and colour pink to reddish-brown through summer. Wind carries pollen between separate male and female plants.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Purple-bronzeGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun in a wide range of well-drained soils, including sandy, rocky, and moderately clay ground, at a pH of 5.5-7.5. Purple foliage colour is deepest in full sun and fades toward green in shade. Water needs are low once established, and the plant withstands drought, wind, and coastal salt. It tolerates light frost to about 25F (-4C), with foliage damage in harder freezes. Growth is fast, and light annual trimming keeps the form dense.Pruning
Tip pruning from a young age builds a bushy, well-branched shape and prevents legginess. It tolerates hard pruning into older wood and reshoots readily. Trimming is usually done in late winter before the spring flush.Pruning Schedule
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F
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winterearly spring