Griselinia Littoralis ‘Green Jewel’

Very similar to the species but we’d suggest that the two-tone paintwork on ‘Green Jewel’ is a kinder take on the theme of variegation. We understand that can divide some folk. On this one it’s still two distinct shades but they’re applied from a more sympathetic palette: French bean green sploshed liberally down the centre of each leathery leaf with some spilling into the margins, and a nice creamy-dreamy yellow splashed around the edges.

Like the species, it is most often seen in gardens as an upright matt-like hedge, all dense and shiny. Absolutely, why not? It does the job and is just the ticket for screening and defining boundaries (and they’ll do it pretty quickly, too) It makes and admirable backdrop in a planting scheme with its prettily frosted and dense-but-not-too-heavy presence. Planted this way it also makes for super wind protection for your more delicate plants, too.

Planted singly, one by itself could reach around 5metres as a pretty little tree and it’s quite lovely when grown this way, too.

Green Jewel will grow on any soil and anywhere except in dense shade. It is extremely resistant to salty breezes and stands firm and unflustered in most coastal locations but it does like to be a little protected from the kind of biting cold winds we experience inland. They can and do become defoliated on their east-facing flanks if ever we get a proper belter of a gale from that direction. Grows back lickety-split, though.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well-watered when first planted.