Pseudopanax lessonii Bronze Eagle

Pseudopanax Bronze Eagle is part of a series of recent hybrids that have surpassed their parent, Pseudopanax lessonii with the beauty of their foliage. Bronze Eagle is a rather unusual evergreen shrub, with an undeniable and perplexing prehistoric charm, that will delight plant enthusiasts looking for something different. This plant has a narrow habit and vertical stems, with thin and dissected, deep dark-bronze, almost black foliage, with a metallic appearance. Strange and graphic, it deserves a prominent place in ericaceous flower beds, in mild climates. Gardeners in colder regions can showcase it on the terrace during the summer and protect it from heavy frosts in winter. 

Pseudopanax lessonii and its hybrids belong to the Araliaceae family, just like tree angelica. It is native to the wet and cool coastal areas of New Zealand. Its hybridisation with P. crassifolius has given rise to numerous varieties, including Bronze Eagle. It is a shrub that prefers humus-rich, fertile, and slightly acidic soil, and an oceanic climate, mild and humid, with moderate temperatures in summer. It can reach 2.50 m (8ft) in height and 1.75 m (6ft) in spread. Its habit is both branched and erect, supported by stems that grow vertically. Its growth is rather slow. The young leaves have a different appearance from the mature leaves. The latter are divided into 3 narrow and elongated leaflets with a thick and rigid texture. They turn deep-dark bronze, with an almost white midrib. 

Mostly grown for their peculiar habit and beautiful evergreen foliage, Pseudopanax lessonii and its varieties are fascinating plants that are relatively easy to acclimatise in the open ground in oceanic climates. The Bronze Eagle hybrid is appreciated for its graphic design and colour. It can be displayed as a solitary plant in a large pot on the terrace, or for example, combined with dwarf bamboos, ferns, and horsetails. Hardy to -7 °C (19.4°F), it requires a lime-poor, humus-rich, well-drained soil and a sheltered position from cold and dry winds, in mild climates, including in coastal areas. It is a beautiful collector's plant, to be grown in a large pot that can be taken inside in winter like citrus trees, in a minimally heated conservatory or a temperate greenhouse.