Other Names:  Tawhiwhi

Description:

A compact, bushy evergreen shrub featuring wavy-margined, yellow to dark green, glossy foliage, with prominent white midribs; subtle, but very fragrant purple flower clusters in late spring; perfect as a hedge, or color accent in the garden

Ornamental Features

Gold Star Kohuhu has attractive dark green foliage with creamy white stripes and tinges of chartreuse which emerges yellow in spring on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. The glossy oval leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter. It features subtle clusters of fragrant deep purple flowers at the ends of the branches from late spring to early summer. The brick red branches are extremely showy and add significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Gold Star Kohuhu is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and can be pruned at anytime. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Gold Star Kohuhu is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Gold Star Kohuhu will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.