Melicope simplex Poataniwha

Drainage: Damp Growth: Medium Height Range: 4 Site Conditions: Exposed Frost Tolerant Heavy Soil Loamy Soil Sandy Soil Windy Spread Range: 2 Sunlight: Full Sun Partial Shade Features: Attractive Flowers Attractive foliage Attractive to bees Attractive to Birds Attractive to insects Evergreen Suitable for Revegetation Species Category: Herbaceous Tag: Fragrant

- Additional information

Melicope simplex is an endemic shrub with divaricating branches bearing small, round leathery leaves. Found throughout New Zealand in the margins of coastal and lowland forests.
Juvenile stages have much smaller leaves often divided into three leaflets. Adult leaves are small, thick, leathery and nearly circular with margins that have shallow rounded teeth. The underside of the leaves has visible oil glands. The leaves when crushed have an aromatic citrus smell.

Melicope simplex develops greenish-white flowerheads in spring followed by tiny black seedheads. Like many New Zealand natives...