Dodonaea viscosa Purpurea

Common Name:
Purple Hop Bush

Description:
Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea' is a striking Australian native shrub admired for its deep burgundy to purple-toned foliage that intensifies in cooler weather, adding year-round colour contrast to gardens. This evergreen cultivar of the Hop Bush is fast-growing and forms a dense, upright habit that makes it highly effective as a hedge, screen, or feature shrub. Its narrow, lance-shaped leaves offer a fine texture and glossy finish, while small, inconspicuous greenish flowers in spring give way to ornamental winged seed capsules that blush pink to red, adding further interest. Thriving in full sun, ‘Purpurea’ is well-suited to Melbourne gardens where it performs best in well-drained soils and tolerates coastal exposure, drought, and light frost once established. It responds well to pruning, which can help maintain shape and encourage a flush of fresh foliage. Low-maintenance and visually striking, it is an excellent choice for both native and contemporary landscapes.

Form:
*Shrub - Large
*Shrub - Clumping / Grass-like / Mounding
*Suitable for Hedging

Mature Size:
*Height: 2 to 4 metres
*Width: 1.5 to 3 metres

Aspect:
*Full Sun
*Part Shade

Flowering:
*Flowers in Spring
*Flowers in Summer

Flower Colour:
*Greenish (inconspicuous)

Key Attributes:
*Australian native
*Suitable for Hedging
*Drought Tolerant
*Coastal Tolerant
*Bird Attracting
*Low Maintenance
*Evergreen
*Responds well to Pruning
*Purple Foliage

Toxicity:
*Not known to be toxic to humans or animals

Companion Plants:
*Callistemon 'Kings Park Special'
*Westringia ‘Grey Box’
*Leptospermum ‘Copper Glow’
*Lomandra ‘Tanika’
*Grevillea ‘Royal Mantle’