Dodonaea (Hopbush) Hedge Seeds 5g

Dodonaea viscosa, known as the Hopbush or الشث, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the Sapindaceae family, reaching about 2-5 m and up to roughly 8 m in ideal conditions. Rather than a showy flowering annual, it earns its place as "شجر السور" - a fast, dense living screen. Its glossy, narrow foliage clips into a tidy hedge, while on the decorative forms papery seed capsules ripen slowly from green to warm red. Tough, fine-textured and architectural, it is one of the best low-water hedge shrubs for hot, arid gardens.

Planting

Soak the hard-coated seed in warm water for 24 hours, or dip briefly in near-boiling water and cool quickly, to aid germination. Sow shallowly, about 3-5 mm deep, into a light, well-drained sandy, low-phosphorus mix and cover thinly. Keep the medium moist, for example under plastic, at about 15-20 C; seedlings usually emerge in roughly 2-4 weeks. In Egypt sow autumn to late winter (September-February).

Fertilizing

Feed sparingly - this plant is sensitive to high phosphorus. No routine feeding is needed; simply work organic matter or compost into the soil in spring to improve foliage density. Always avoid high-phosphorus fertilizers, which can harm the plant.

Care

Give full sun, as it is shade-intolerant. Plant in fast-draining soil and let it dry between waterings; overwatering causes chlorosis. Prick out seedlings into pots, harden a month in direct sun, then plant out young, spacing 0.3-0.9 m for a screen. Generally trouble-free; ensure good drainage to prevent root rot. It tolerates heat to about 45 C but only light frost.