Other Names:  Tawhiwhi

Description:

A bushy evergreen shrub that is dense and compact, featuring small, rounded gray-green glossy foliage, margined with creamy white; subtle, but very fragrant dark purple flower clusters in late spring; perfect as a hedge, or color accent in the garden

Ornamental Features

Silver Queen Kohuhu has attractive grayish green foliage edged in creamy white with hints of silver which emerges chartreuse in spring on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. The oval leaves are highly ornamental and remain grayish 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 dark red branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Silver Queen 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.

Silver Queen Kohuhu is recommended for the following landscape applications;

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

Planting & Growing

Silver Queen Kohuhu will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 8 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 pH, but grows best in rich soils. 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.