Family: Malvaceae
Common Name: Lacebark

Originally from New Zealand, this small genus comprises deciduous and evergreen shrubs and trees with a slender, upright habit. They have alternate, simple leaves, often lobed when young, but are mostly grown for their attrac­tive, terminal sprays of delicate, fragrant flow­ers. These lovely, summer-flowering ornamen­tals generally develop first as shrubs, becoming tree-like when adult, although they may still hear some juvenile leaves. Some species have been used medicinally by the Maori peoples.

Species

H. angustifolia grows into a tree of about 9 m (30 ft) tall, with clustered leaves, nar­rowly oval to sharply pointed, and sprays of white flowers. It is evergreen.

H. lyallii, lacebark, is a deciduous, large shrub or small tree, 7-9 m (23-30 ft) tall. The young, oval leaves and branches are pubescent and fragrant, white flowers grow singly or in clus­ters. The common name is derived from the thick, fibrous bark.

H. populnea, a mostly ever-green tree, to 9 m (30 ft), is quite smooth, with glossy, toothed, leathery leaves. The white dow­ers appear in clusters in late summer and early autumn. The timber is used for fumiture-making, the bark for ropes and cords.

H. sexstylosa, ribbonwood, is a small tree, to 7 m (23 ft), sim­ilar to H. populnea, but with narrow, oval to lance-shaped leaves. Small clusters of sweetly scented, white flowers are borne profusely in late summer and autumn.

Cultivation

Lacebarks prefer deep, well-drained soil, enriched with organic matter, and a shel­tered position. Propagate from cuttings of half-ripe shoots taken in summer or by layering. Plants grown from seed can vary considerably.

Climate

Zone 8.