Dodonaea Viscosa 'Purpurea'

Purple Hop Bush / Purple Hopseed Bush / Sticky Hop Bush / Hopbush

Botanical Name: Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea'
Family: Sapindaceae
Origin: Australia
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

Overview

Dodonaea viscosa ‘Purpurea’ is a fast, glossy native hedging shrub for South Australian gardens. It forms a dense, upright screen of rich bronze–purple foliage (greener in shade, deepest in sun/cold), with small spring flowers followed by papery red–purple seed pods in summer–autumn. Ideal for low-maintenance boundaries, driveway screening and coastal sites.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 2–3 m H × 1.5–2 m W (kept smaller with clipping)
• Growth Rate: 30-60 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Evergreen, glossy bronze–purple leaves; neat, clip-responsive habit
• Flowers: Small yellow-green flowers in spring; red–purple papery pods often follow on female plants
  
• Seasonal Interest: Year-round colour; summer–autumn display from colourful pods (on female plants)
• Wildlife Value: Dense cover for small birds; flowers/pods support insects and birds
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant (once established), heat-tolerant, wind-tolerant
  coastal-tolerant; light frost (protect young plants)
• Planting Density: Shrub borders/hedges: 1 plant per metre (dense) or 1 per 1.5 m for a looser effect
• Pet Friendly: Yes — generally regarded as non-toxic to pets; ingestion of any plant may cause mild tummy upset

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (best colour/density in full sun)
• Soil: Well-drained loam or sandy loam; tolerates improved clay/raised beds (avoid waterlogging)
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Mulch in spring; tip-prune/clip 2–3× in the growing season to keep tight; light feed in early spring
• Lifespan: 15-25 years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean SA gardens, including coastal areas
• Soil pH: Acid, Neutral, Alkaline — broadly adaptable with free drainage

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Privacy screening and boundary hedges with a refined, uniform finish
• Mass plant for cohesive, low-maintenance structure along fences and driveways
• Feature as a clipped entry statement; pairs well with gravel, lomandra and native grasses

Why You Will Love It

Fast, reliable and hedge-perfect. ‘Purpurea’ gives dense screening, rich purple foliage year-round, colourful seed pods, and excellent drought/heat/wind tolerance — a high-value native screen for SA gardens.