Description
Neolitsea –
There are about 100 species of evergreen, dioecious shrubs or trees in this genus. They occur in tropical woodland in Eastern and Southeastern Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia. Only N. sericea is usually grown, for its handsome, smooth edged, simple, alternate, Prominently veined, leathery leaves. The flowers are insignificant, each having 4 sepal that fall on opening, on female plants these are followed by axillary clusters of red or black berries. Grow at the base of a warm, sunny wall, in a woodland garden, or as a specimen plant, they also make useful screens or hedges.
Grow in fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun or partial shade, with shelter from cold, drying winds. Does not do well in lime rich soil.
N. sericea – Litsea glauca – N. glauca – This evergreen, large shrub or small tree from China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan occurring at altitudes up to 4,000′ feet grows 20′ feet tall and at least 10′ feet wide. It is ovoid-columnar later spreading, with yellow-brown, silky hairy shoots. It produces aromatic, oval-oblong, leaves, 4-7″ long and 3″ wide, with 3 prominent veins, they are softly golden hairy above when young, becoming deep green above and whitish beneath. In late summer or autumn it bears small, star shaped yellow flowers held in stalkless umbels, followed by egg shaped, red berries, 3/4″ long, on female plants.
Zones 8-11
