Dodonaea viscosa Akeake / Hopbush is one of New Zealand's toughest, most characterful, and most culturally significant native trees, and a plant that has truly earned its legendary status. A hardy evergreen shrub or small tree with a dense, bushy habit, Akeake bears glossy, narrow, leathery green leaves and produces ornamental winged seed capsules that are as decorative as any flower, beginning creamy-green and maturing to a warm papery brown through summer and autumn.
Akeake thrives in nearly all conditions, making it ideal for restoration projects from the coast to lowland forest. It tolerates salt winds and dry conditions, makes a superb trimmed hedge, and produces ornamental papery flower clusters in summer. It occupies a wide range of natural habitats from dune fields and boulder beaches through coastal scrub to lowland forest.
