MELICYTUS ALPINUS

Description

"Porcupine Bush" This rare relic plant exists in the wild only in the South Island and a few loci of the North Island of New Zealand. Bone hardy and long-lived, it produces, amongst small, weather-resistant leathery leaves masses of tiny, pendulous cream flowers in Spring followed by relatively sizeable , blue-splashed white berries. People have remarked that it resembles a dwarf cotoneaster at first sight!

Sowing Advice

For best results, sow immediately onto a good soil-based compost. Cover the seeds with fine grit or compost to approximately their own depth. They can be sown at any time, and germination can sometimes be quicker if kept at 15 to 20 degrees C. We sow most seeds in an unheated greenhouse and wait for natural germination, as many seeds have built-in dormancy mechanisms, often waiting for natural spring germination, hence giving them a full season of growth.

Key Facts