Pseudopanax crassifolius
Pseudopanax crassifolius · Araliaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around pseudopanax crassifolius and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Common name
- Lancewood
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Origin
- New Zealand
- Foliage
- Evergreen, leathery and linear
- Adult size
- 4 to 6 m in height
- Growth
- Slow to moderate
- Hardiness
- Frost-sensitive (Mediterranean region or indoors)
- Exposure
- Bright light, tolerating partial shade
Care
Light exposure
Place your Pseudopanax in a bright location, ideally near a well-lit window without scorching direct sun. Indoors, it appreciates bright, diffused light. Partial shade is tolerated, but will slightly slow growth.
Watering
Water regularly during the growing season (spring-summer), letting the top of the substrate dry slightly between waterings. Reduce watering in autumn-winter. Avoid excessive moisture, which promotes root rot.
Soil and repotting
Use well-draining potting soil enriched with perlite or clay pellets. The pH should be slightly acidic to neutral. Repot in spring every 2 to 3 years, or when the root system begins to emerge from the pot.
Pruning
Pruning is not essential, as the plant grows naturally in an elegant form. You can remove dead or misplaced branches in spring, and lightly pinch young stems to encourage branching.
Fertilizing
Apply a balanced fertilizer every 15 to 20 days during the growing season (spring-summer). Stop feeding in autumn-winter. Prefer a low-concentration fertilizer to avoid mineral salt buildup.
Diseases and pests
Watch for spider mites and scale insects indoors, especially in dry conditions. Root rot can occur with excessive moisture. Regularly air out the foliage and feel free to mist with lukewarm water to boost its immunity.
Did you know?
Pseudopanax crassifolius, called 'Lancewood' in New Zealand, fascinates botanists with its remarkable ontogenetic transformation: the young plant bears long, thin, pointed leaves (hence its name 'lancewood'), while the mature tree develops shorter, more rounded leaves. This remarkable metamorphosis, uncommon among plants, was once an intensive subject of study in developmental plasticity.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Common ivyHedera helix
- Japanese angelica treeAralia elata
- Persian ivyHedera colchica
- Japanese araliaFatsia japonica
- Cabbage treeCussonia spicata
- Fatsia polycarpaFatsia polycarpa
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.