What’s Blooming in Paradise: Varnish Leaf (Dodonaea viscosa)
First impression: Sea-foam green, stiff, heart-shaped petals with pink to red tinting. These petals are fused, forming a pouch in the middle. For me, they are breathtaking, being grouped in a cluster to form the appearance of my beloved hydrangea. Older petals have a varnished look as they have turned a brown paper-bag color. Shiny, slender green elliptical leaves emerge everywhere as an adornment to the gorgeous blossoms.
I notice the twig-like appearances of the multi-stemmed brown trunks. My nose detects no fragrance, even though it looks like there should be. Wow, pompons of petals that any hydrangea lover would cheer about, blooming now at the Botanical Gardens of the Sanibel Moorings.
Upon further investigation: Varnish leaf is very versatile and can be grown as a densely branched shrub or small tree. It’s one of those in-betweeners, with you deciding the height by pruning. Left on its own, the mature height is around 10-15 feet tall. Our star’s habit is a wide bushy shrub; I routinely shape and form its body because this plant is a fast grower and can get leggy.
It is evergreen, unless it is hit by a really cold spell, then its leaves drop. Its leaves will return when the temperatures rise. You will notice a resin on its leaves that helps it retain moisture, making it very drought tolerant. This sticky, glossy appearance is how it received such a peculiar name — Varnish Leaf.
We gardeners in paradise miss our picturesque hydrangeas. Fortunately, we have this wonderful native plant that fits the look-a-like criteria. Wisps of heart-shaped (without the points) petals emerge yellow/green in oodles massing to a large blossom. Each flower is formed dimensional by three petals fused together. The center of the flower is hollow like a small pouch. As the flowers mature, fruits form inside the pouch turning colors of pink and red. This stage of fruiting is when wildlife, especially birds, adore this plant. I have experienced several breath-taking moments when crimson cardinals wander up and down this already striking plant.
After the fruit, the seeds form and are easily dispersed by the wind when the petals turn transparent and airy. All this dimensional kaleidoscopic display is going on at the same time, which makes flowering time a real show-stopper. Varnish Leaf will grow on a wide variety of soils and sand. Once you see the abundant blossoms, you will love this plant. I use them for cut flowers; they are gorgeous in every color stage. Its native status puts it in the easy care and lack of pests/disease category.
Varnish Leaf from days gone has been under used in our tropical landscape. I encourage you to try one; once you see it flower, don’t forget to thank me!
Pros:
Oodles of blooms winter and summer
Does well in sandy soil
Likes full sun
Easy to maintain/prune
Easily propagated by seeds
Versatile shrub or tree
Birds love the fruit
Salt tolerance
Great for a cottage garden look
Drought tolerant
Neighbors will wonder how you can grow hydrangeas
Easy care
Native.
Cons:
Brittle limbs not good for high winds
Fast grower
Pollinator attractor
Seed pods can be plentiful and messy
Birds love the fruit
May have to thank Anita
Cold sensitive.
Conclusion: Are you missin your hydrangeas? Come see our version, minus the snow, in our tropical garden in paradise.
Don’t wanna miss this bloomer!