Corynocarpus

Family. Corynocarpaceae.

Origin. Originally from New Zealand.

Description. Corynocarpus is a genus consisting of 5 plant species. It is an evergreen shrub or tree up to 15 m high. The trunk has gray bark, is erect and branched. The leaves are glossy, oval, 10-20 cm long, hard, dark green, collected in whorls. Variegated varieties have white stripes along the edge of the leaf blade. The underside of the leaves is painted in a lighter tone. In nature, adult plants bloom in the spring with small greenish or cream flowers with a diameter of 0.5 cm. The flowers are collected in inflorescences - apical pyramidal panicles up to 20 cm long. After flowering, large, fleshy, orange, oblong berries are formed.

Height. In nature it reaches 15 m. In culture, when grown in a tub, it reaches 2-3 m, the height can be regulated by pruning.

Temperature conditions

All year round, corynocarpus can be kept at normal room temperature - about 20 ° C. Do not expose plants to temperatures below 5 ° C. 

Lighting

Will appreciate a well-lit location with access to direct sunlight. Shade the leaves and shoots in spring and summer.

Care

Corynocarpus does not require much care and is very easy to grow indoors. 

Substrate

Loose soil with good drainage, consisting of peat, turf soil, leaf humus and perlite.

Feeding

During the growing season, it needs regular fertilizing with complex fertilizers in half concentration every 2 weeks. 

Purpose

A large bush that will require a lot of space to grow as it ages.

Flowering time

May June. It blooms very rarely indoors.

Air humidity

Tolerates dry air in heated rooms well. Spray periodically to prevent the appearance of insect pests. 

Soil moisture

Watering for corynocarpus should be moderate throughout the year. The top layer of soil should dry out between waterings.

Transfer

Repot in spring, when new growth begins and the pot becomes cramped and roots are visible through the drainage holes.

Reproduction

Corynocarpus is propagated vegetatively - by cuttings or seeds. The apical cuttings are cut in the summer and the base is dusted with rooting powder, then immersed in a damp mixture of peat and sand and covered with glass. After the start of new growth - after about 2 months, the cover is removed and the plants begin to be watered. Seeds germinate quite easily, within 1 month. 

Pests and diseases

Corynocarpus can shed its leaves if there is a lack of moisture.

Scale insects, mealybugs, spider mites. 

Note

The seeds are very toxic if ingested, keep the plant away from children who may be attracted to the large orange berries. The plant lives a long time indoors if well cared for.