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Products > Meryta sinclairii   Meryta sinclairii - Puka    [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Tree Family: Araliaceae (Ginsengs) Origin: New Zealand (Australasia) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Greenish White Bloomtime: Not Significant Height: 12-20 feet Width: 15-20 feet Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade Seaside: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F Meryta sinclairii (Puka) - A round-headed small tree to 18 feet tall with long-petioled large, 1 to 1 1/2 foot long, glossy green paddle-shaped leaves at the ends of the dark brown branches. Male and female flowers are separate but on the same plant and neither are showy. Fleshy, black fruit is produced after the bloom. Plant in full sun to light shade and water occasionally. Though reported to not tolerate much frost is has proven to be hardy to at least 25 F for short durations in our garden. A great tree for near frost free gardens and even takes coastal winds. Its bold foliage also makes it good in containers. This plant comes from near the coast and on the small coastal islands in Three Kings and Hen and Chicken of the north Island of New Zealand. It has never been common and in fact was rare even when William Collenso (1811-1899), a 19th century British missionary and botanist was first shown a single guarded specimen by local Maoris. Though Collenso was not allowed to even touch the plant, he later showed the tree to Dr Andrew Sinclair, (1794–1861), Colonial Secretary and naturalist and together were able to collect leaf specimens that made it to Kew. Independently, additional specimens made their way to Dr. Joseph Hooker at Kew who named the plant Botryodendrum sinclairii to honor Dr. Sinclair. It was later put in the genus Meryta.  This description of this plant is based on our research and our observations of it growing at the nursery, in our own garden and in other gardens. We always appreciate receiving feedback of any kind from those who have any additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or have additional cultural tips that would aid others growing Meryta sinclairii .     [MORE INFO]