Neolitsea sericea
Family - Lauraceae
Category - Shrub
Origin - China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Hardiness - H4
Height - up to 6m, sometimes more
Width - 3m
Location - The Woodland Walk
Description: A medium to large-sized Evergreen Shrub with an upright habit when young, but becoming more spreading with age. The new leaves are golden when they emerge and are as soft as silk. (Sericea means silky.) With age, the leaves turn dark green and leathery and are ovate to Elliptic in shape. Neolitsea sericea is Dioecious, and small, inconspicuous green flowers are produced in umbels in autumn and are followed by red berries on female plants. Rare in cultivation.
Flower:
Dioecious. Small, greenish-yellow, star-shaped flowers are generally produced in October, but possibly earlier following a warm summer. Flowers are followed by round, red berries on female plants.
Flower colour: Green
Flower shape: Star-shaped flowers in umbels
Flowering time: October
Foliage:
Ovate to Elliptic leaves with pointed tips are golden when they emerge and are extremely soft. With age the leaves become leathery, dark green and prominently veined.
Foliage Senescence: Evergreen
Foliage Shape: Ovate to elliptic
Propagation:
Cuttings, seed.
Cultivation:
Best in a sheltered position in full sun to partial shade in fertile soil that is moisture retentive, but well drained. Avoid shallow chalk soils.