Woody > Hoheria > Hoheria glabrata > Hoheria glabrata
Hoheria glabrata
Mountain Lacebark or Ribbonwood
Origin: Western South Island, New Zealand.
Mike's
Opinion
"
This specimen is a hardy deciduous shrub or small tree, endemic to New Zealand. Beautiful white fragrant flowers carry an abundance of pollen and nectar, which makes it attractive to pollinators. It has a nice autumn colour compared to other Hoheria cultivars making it great for ornamental uses, and it is usually found in wet mountainous regions of southern New Zealand.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Malvaceae |
| Genus |
| Hoheria |
| Species |
| glabrata |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Shrub (deciduous) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 8 - 10 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Grow under glass |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H4 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-15) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 5 |
| Height |
| 10 m |
| Spread |
| 6 - 8 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
click to expand
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| A large dark green widespread shrub or small tree with large white fragrant flowers and hairless foliage. |
| Landscape |
| In Britain it is mainly used for ornamental purposes. Mainly a wildlife species seen in forest mountain regions, so not seen much in New Zealand landscapes but is occasionally used for ornamental garden purposes. |
| Cultivation |
| Cultivation does not require fertile soil, and it grows well in well-draining neutral to alkaline soils. However, it does require wind protection as it could suffer from wind damage. Mulch covering could be beneficial but is not necessary. If a garden is too exposed to wind, consider a sunny wall which faces south. Pruning the Hoheria is unnecessary unless damaged by a harsh winter. |
| Shape |
| Widest at base and narrowing to a point. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Large white flowers in flowering season, smooth leaves, and strongly cordate leaf bases. |
| Pests |
| Eriophyes hoheriae (Lacebark Gall Mite) causes stem galls that cause little harm. They are a threat, but are most common in other Hoheria species such as H. populnea. They are also palatable to goats, deer, and possums. |
| Habitat |
| Typically found in montane to subalpine ecosystems at altitudes of 600 m to 1100 m. They grow near wetter areas, including forest margins along river and stream banks, and in open forests. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| The lacy appearance comes from growths of the brown outer layer penetrating through the fibrous green inner bark. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Flower buds are green in colour, with a bell-shaped calyx 3.5 – 6.0 x 7 – 9 mm. |
| Leaf Description |
| Juvenile and adult leaves have different characteristics, however both have a heart shaped base and are sparsely hairy. Juvenile leaves have rounded serrated margins that are deeply lobed and are 1.5 – 5.0 cm wide and 1.5 – 3.0 cm in length. The adult leaves are a mid to dark green, turn yellow in autumn, with a lighter underside and fine but obvious venation. The apex is sharp and pointed. All leaves have deep rounded serration being 4.0 – 18.0 cm in width and 2.5 – 8.0 cm in length. |
| Flower Description |
| White, five petaled, cupped flowers 4 cm across with an added sweet scent that then forms into small clusters of 2 or 3. Flowering from February to May or the summer to autumn season in New Zealand. |
| Fruit Description |
| Glabrous, orange-brown colour. Contains 10-15 seeds ranging from 2.9 – 4.5 x 1.9 – 3.2 mm, with a narrow wing of 0.5 mm. Fruiting from April to July. |
| Colour Description |
| The colour of the foliage is dark green, the flowers white in the summer; then the foliage turns yellow during the autumn. The bark is pale to brownish. |
| Texture Description |
| The texture is fine since there are minimal hairs on the plant. Mainly the flowers have hairs while the bark has a medium texture from its fibrous pattern. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Ardanaiseig Hotel, Kilchrenan by Taynuilt, Argyll, Scotland. Logan Botanic Garden, Port Logan, Stranraer, United Kingdom. |
| Propagation |
| Hoheria glabrata grows best from a fresh seed, but the seed can also be dispersed by wind naturally. They prefer any well-drained soil and a sunny location with a cool climate. Germinate in autumn while providing shelter in the winter and plant the seedlings after frost in the spring or summer. Can tolerate windy locations, dislikes humidity and does not flower in warm climates. Does not require a very fertile soil but does well in neutral to alkaline soils. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| Different species other than Hoheria glabrata were used like the H. populnea was used for medicinal purposes. The fibrous fine pieces of bark were used for weaving kete, headbands, hats, or trims for cloaks. Maori women even used the inner bark as a sanitary towel as it was washable. It was also eaten at times of need by the Tuhoe tribe. H. glabrata was not even published as a distinct species until the 1920’s and was labelled as H. lyallii. |
top