Hoheria sexstylosa Snow White

The Hoheria sexstylosa 'Snow White' is a stunning and rare cultivated bush, particularly well adapted to coastal areas, where it appreciates the mildness and humidity. It is valued for its dazzling pure white summer flowering, which is slightly fragrant and covers its vegetation at a time of year when few bushes are in bloom. With a narrow yet graceful habit, adorned with flexible branches that dance in the wind, and often with beautiful shiny foliage that is evergreen primarily, it remains lovely even in winter. 

Relatively hardy and tolerant of sea spray, and with fast growth, this Hoheria makes an excellent free or flowering hedge in coastal areas. The Hoheria sexstylosa is a bush belonging to the large family of Malvaceae, and it is a cousin of hibiscus and lavateras. It is native to New Zealand, found in the North Island, in Waikato and on the Coromandel Peninsula, in the South Island, northwest of Nelson, and inland in the Marlborough and Banks provinces.

 In nature, this large bush with a narrow conical habit can reach a height of 8 m (26 ft 2 in) and a spread of 4 m (13 ft 1 in), but it will not exceed 4 m (13 ft 1 in) in height and 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) in spread in mild climate gardens. Its bark, from the age of 10 years, is adorned with very decorative ivory, brown and greenish-grey plates. Its growth is fast, and its hardiness is given, according to sources, as -15°C (5 °F) in a sheltered location.

The cultivar 'Snow White' distinguishes itself with an even more abundant flowering. Its habit is rather bushy when young, then the bush reaches up to 4 m (13 ft 1 in) in height, forming a narrow, elegant trunk carried by very flexible branches, almost weeping. The foliage of this Hoheria persists more or less throughout the year, depending on the severity of winter. It consists of entire leaves, arranged alternately, oval to lanceolate, strongly toothed along the edges. It measures about 7 cm (2.8 in) long on young plants, sometimes up to 20 cm (7.9 in) on older specimens. Their colour is a vibrant and glossy green on the upper side, more greyish on the underside. 

The slightly fragrant flowering takes place in our climate in July-August for more than a month. Countless flowers are solitary or gathered in small clusters. Each flower, 3 cm (1.2 in) wide, comprises 5 pure white petals with prominent stamens arranged in a star shape. After flowering, which is very popular with pollinating insects, fruits develop as brown and winged capsules. They contain seeds that spread easily. The 'Snow White' Hoheria will thrive in a relatively humid and not-too-cold climate in any well-drained, acidic, neutral, or even slightly limestone soil. 

This plant grows well by the coast and inland in sheltered locations. It is graceful and can be planted alongside other plants like serviceberries, Fothergilla, Prunus or Tetrathodium daniellii. It can be planted at the seaside with tamarisks, Griselinia, tall Olearia, and New Zealand myrtles to form a large windbreak hedge. Plant it at the edge of a large alley in front of a screen of more towering trees or a free hedge.