Pseudopanax Goldfinger

Pseudopanax Goldfinger is a beautiful selection with golden spring foliage from a New Zealand bush. It is a superb plant for mild climates, perfect for adding a touch of lushness and exoticism to even the most modest decor. This variety forms a large, dense bush with palmate leaves and digitate and dentate leaflets that remain decorative even in winter. Plant this bush in full sun or partial shade, in well-drained but moist soil. It will particularly thrive in a mild oceanic climate. Gardeners in colder regions can give it a prominent place on the patio during the summer and protect it from heavy frost in winter.

Pseudopanax lessonii and its hybrids belong to the Araliaceae family, just like the angelica tree and ivy. It is native to the humid and damp coastal areas of New Zealand. Its hybridisation with P. crassifolius has given rise to many varieties, selected in New Zealand, which have surpassed their parent in terms of the beauty of their foliage.

'Goldfinger' stands out for its slightly reduced growth and its finely cut foliage, tinged with golden yellow in spring. It is a bush that prefers humus-rich, fertile, and rather acidic soil, and a mild and humid oceanic climate. It can reach a height of 2.50 m (8ft) with a spread of 1.50 m (5ft) to 2 m, and has a bushy habit. Its growth is quite fast. The leaves are divided into 5 very narrow and elongated leaflets, slightly toothed along the edges, resembling the 5 fingers of a hand. They change from golden yellow in spring to dark green from summer to winter. In this Pseudopanax species, there are male and female individuals. Only the female plants will bear small ovoid fruits of black color after pollination by a male plant.

Mostly cultivated for the beauty of their foliage, Pseudopanax lessonii and its varieties are fascinating plants with high ornamental value and relatively easy to acclimate in the open ground on the oceanic facade of our country. The Goldfinger cultivar will appeal to enthusiasts of exotic and lush plants. It can be showcased as a specimen plant in a large pot on the terrace or, for example, paired with dwarf bamboos, ferns, horsetails, or even rhododendrons. Hardy to -5°C (23°F), it requires a sheltered position from cold and dry winds, in mild climates, including coastal areas. Undoubtedly, it is a very beautiful collector's plant to be grown in a large pot that can be stored in a conservatory or greenhouse during the winter.