Native Hops, Florida hopbush, Hopseed Bush, Varnish Leaf, Hopbush, Narrow-leaf hopbush, Wedge-leaf h
Dodonaea viscosa
Family: Sapindaceae
What it is like
Bloom Color: Green, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Early fall, Early spring, Late summer, Late fall, Late spring, Mid summer, Mid fall, Mid spring. Soil Condition: Acidic, Alkaline, Loamy, Neutral, Sandy, Slightly alkaline, Well drained.
Dodonaea viscosa is an evergreen Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 1.5 m (5ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). . The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.
Height (m): 3
Where it is found
Rocky, stony or sandy soils in the montane zone of Victoria. On dry slopes, in fields and sandy soils by the coast in China.
Tropical and sub-tropical regions of Asia, Australia, New Zealand and N. America.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Seed. No further details are given. The bitter fruits are a substitute for hops and yeast in making beer. The chewed leaves are said to be stimulating but they contain saponins and are also said to be slightly cyanogenic so their use is not very advisable.
Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
Condiment: the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.
Medicine
Rating: 2
The leaves are anodyne, astringent, diaphoretic, febrifuge (the var. angustissima is normally used), odontalgic and vulnerary. They are applied internally in the treatment of fevers. Externally, they are used to treat toothache, sore throats, wounds, skin rashes and stings. The leaves are apparently effective in the treatment of toothache if they are chewed without swallowing the juice. The bark is employed in astringent baths and poultices.
Anodyne: Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.
Diaphoretic: Induces perspiration.
Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.
Odontalgic: Treats toothache (temporary measure only) and other problems of the teeth and gums.
Vulnerary: Promotes the healing of wounds.
Other
Rating:
The leaves contain up to 18% tannin. Plants are very tolerant of pruning and make a good hedging plant for windy sites. Wood - heavy, tough, resistant. Used for wedges, hammers, turnery, inlay, cabinets etc.
Hedge: Plants that can be grown as hedges.
Tannin: An astringent substance obtaied from plants, it is used medicinally, as a dye and mordant, stabilizer in pesticide etc.
Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.
Hedge: Hedge
How it is grown
Landscape Uses:Border, Pest tolerant, Hedge, Screen, Standard, Superior hedge, Specimen. Requires a light well-drained soil in a sunny position. Succeeds in almost any fertile soil and in a hot dry position. Resists drought, salt winds and (atmospheric?) pollution. Plants are very wind hardy but are not resistant to frost. They tolerate temperatures down to about -7°c in Australian gardens, but are damaged at about 3°c in British gardens. One report says that they succeed outdoors in the mildest gardens in Britain. Plants are growing very well in pots in a polyhouse on our trial grounds in south Cornwall, but they have not survived in the open ground. Our seed source was from Australia, other provenances might be more hardy. Plants are difficult to transplant when they are more than 60 centimetres tall. Polymorphic, there are a number of sub-species. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Special Features: Attractive foliage, North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.
Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. The seed is slow to germinate according to one report, but it germinated in 3 weeks in a cold greenhouse with us. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a fairly sunny part of the greenhouse for at least their first winter. If trying them outdoors, then plant them out in early summer of their second or third year's growth after the last expected frosts and give them some protection from the cold for their next winter or two. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Hedge;
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: 9-11
Growth: Medium
Soil: Light (sandy)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist
Things to keep in mind
The leaves are slightly cyanogenic. They are also said to contain saponins. Although quite toxic, saponins are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problems. Saponins can be found in a number of common foods such as some types of beans. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish.
Its other names
Local names
Synonyms
D. attenuata. A.Cunn.