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Pseudopanax ferox (Fierce Lancewood) - A small slow growing tree-like plant that can reach 18 feet at maturity in 10 to 15 years. At maturity the plant has a rounded crown of short wide leaves atop a straight longitudinally grooved slightly-twisted and sinewy trunk but it is the leaves of the juvenile plants that are most interesting. The juvenile leaves, which this plant holds until maturity, are very narrow, over 1 foot long with a gray-green color that has a metallic sheen with an attractive prominent reddish midrib and large blunt teeth along the margins. The leaves are produced all around the upright developing single trunk and hang downwards starting with the newest leaves held at about a 45-degree angle with older leaves, which often go right down to the base of the plant, held nearly flat against the stem. The insignificant small green flowers appear only once plants mature and are in terminal compound umbels.
Plant in part day to full coastal sun in a very well-drained soil and water occasionally to regularly. Plants will grow in full shade but very slowly and have fewer leaves. Hardy to 15-20° F with light frost damage inducing branching.
The dimorphic changes between a smaller juvenile and the mature plant is common in New Zealand plants and is thought to possibly be a defense mechanism to prevent animals (perhaps even the legendary Moa, a large flightless and now extinct bird) from browsing a young tree. Pseudopanax is a genus of about 22 trees and shrubs found in New Zealand, Tasmania, New Caledonia, China and Chile. There are 14 species endemic to New Zealand of which Pseudopanax ferox is one of the rarer. It can be found in scattered groups in lowland forest from Mangonui in the north island to Otago on the south island. The name Pseudopanax is from the Latin word false and Panax, a related genera (Ginseng), in the Aralianceae so it means false Panax. The tree is called fierce lancewood in reference to its fierce looking saw tooth shaped juvenile leaves and is also called Toothed Lanceword or by its Maori name of Horoeka. After visiting and seeing this fantastic plant in New Zealand gardens we knew we had to try it in our own and got our first plant from Dan Hinkley's fantastic Heronswood Nursery and later grew a crop from seed purchased from rarepalmseeds.com and sold this plant from 2011 to 2013. An interesting plant that is better suited to a generally cooler climate than ours.
This information about Pseudopanax ferox displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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