A multi-stemmed, upright, and rounded shrub growing 2.5 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) tall and wide with a bushy, somewhat open habit.
Foliage: Opposite, simple, ovate to oblong leaves (4–10 cm long) that are dark green and glossy on top, and slightly rough, furry, or silvery-gray felted on the underside. Leaves often turn a deep maroon-red in autumn, remaining evergreen in milder climates.
Flowers: Produced in spring (Sept-Oct in NZ) in rounded, hemispherical clusters about 6–8 cm wide. Buds start as a deep, soft pink and open to intensely fragrant white flowers with a sweet, vanilla-like scent.
Fruit: Sparingly produced elliptical drupes that emerge green, turn red, and mature to black.
Last Updated on September 28, 2026 by admin
