Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea' - Inland Valley Garden Planner

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Description

The Hopseed bush is one of the most popular screen plant choices for use in the Inland Empire. It has an evergreen habit and can be grown as large shrubs or small trees, reaching heights of 12-18 ft. while spreading 6-12 ft. wide. Foliage is comprised of long narrow leaves, 3-4 in. long, to 1/2 in. wide. Flowers are inconspicuous, but large numbers of pinkish seed capsules provide accent character in spring.

Hopseed bush is a tough and adaptable plant that tolerates heat, cold, and many types of soils. It can be grown throughout the Inland Empire where it is valued for its rapid growth rate. It can be clipped or trained into a low branched tree and is widely used as a screen and slope plant. The purple leaved cultivar, D. viscose 'Purpurea' is the most popular choice for gardens and landscapes due to its rich burgundy-purple foliage. These plants can be relatively short-lived, 10-15 years in some instances, particularly if overwatered.

Water Needs

Hopseed bush is well adapted to the Inland Empire where it can be sustained with normal winter rainfall and low amounts of summer water. Periodic deep water is recommended in summer; this will sustain good foliage character. The chart below provides a baseline irrigation schedule for this species. It should be noted there are several winter months marked by an asterisk (*) when rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates it can grow with varying amounts of water depending upon exposure conditions and size.

Irrigation Schedule and Graph

Low Water Use Plants

Irrigation Schedule 2

	Jan*	Feb*	Mar*	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov*	Dec*
Runs per Month	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x
Inches per Run	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"

Inches per Month	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"

Range of supplemental summer water: 7"-14"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"

0"-2"

1"-2"

0"-2"

Jan*

Feb*

Mar*

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov*

Dec*

For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, click here.

Plant Properties

Plant Type: Shrub
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Upright, Low-branching, Dense
Growth Rate: Fast
Height: 12 ft. - 18 ft.
Width: 6 ft. - 12 ft.
Water Needs: Low 2
Foliage Color: Medium green, Purple
Flower Color: Insignificant
Flower Season: Insignificant
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil, Silt, Loam, Clay
Exposure Adaptations: Heat, Frost, Aridity, All day sun
Function: Slopes, Screening, Foliage accent plant, Banks, Background plant, Hedge

Maintenance

Dodonaea has a compact and even form, requiring very little maintenance in most situations. When used as a billowy hedge, prune or lightly shear as necessary, ideally winter through spring (S, 18). It can also be pruned and trained as a small tree by selectively removing lower branches (5). Main pruning of any stems or branches for removal is best done in late fall or early winter (18).

References