Rank Species | Genus Pseudopanax Higher classification Pseudopanax | |
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Similar Pseudopanax, Pseudopanax crassifolius, Pseudopanax ferox, Pseudopanax arboreus, Melicytus ramiflorus | ||
Pseudopanax lessonii, or houpara, is a New Zealand native tree belonging to the family Araliaceae. Houpara is a shrub or tree up to 6 m tall, with stout branches. The leaves are crowded towards the tips of branchlets, and are 3- to 5- foliolate. Juvenile plants have larger leaves than adults. The petioles are 5-15 cm long.
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Distribution
Endemic to New Zealand, Houpara's natural range is coastal forest and scrub on the Three Kings Islands and the North Island as far south as Poverty Bay (38°4′S).
Cultivation
Houpara is popular in New Zealand gardens, but is rare in cultivation elsewhere, requiring mild, moist conditions, without extremes of temperature in winter and summer. A number of cultivars have been developed, including 'Gold Splash' which has yellow variegated leaves, and 'Nigra' which has dark purple-brown foliage.
