Pseudowintera colorata – Colourful Evergreen with Spicy Charm

The Pseudowintera colorata, often called Mountain Horopito or Pepper Tree, is a striking evergreen shrub from New Zealand that brings both beauty and resilience to the garden. Known for its leathery leaves splashed with vibrant red, bronze, and green tones, it provides a bold splash of colour throughout the year. In colder weather, the foliage takes on even stronger red and orange hues, making it especially eye-catching in winter.

Compact, slow-growing, and tough, this shrub is excellent for adding interest to borders, woodland gardens, or containers. It’s not only ornamental but also valued historically for its culinary and medicinal uses in New Zealand.

General Information

Pseudowintera colorata is a hardy and distinctive evergreen that thrives in temperate gardens.

• Habit: Compact, bushy shrub with upright, branching growth.

• Height & spread: Typically 1–2m tall and wide, though it may grow larger in ideal conditions.

• Foliage: Leathery, oval leaves marbled in green, splashed with bronze and red; colours intensify in cooler months.

• Flowers: Small, yellow-green blooms appear in spring; not especially showy.

• Fruit: Sometimes followed by small black berries.

• Position: Prefers partial shade to full sun; colour is strongest in brighter light.

• Soil: Thrives in fertile, moist, well-drained soil; dislikes waterlogging.

• Hardiness: Fully hardy in most UK and Irish gardens, tolerating frost and cold winters.

• Uses: Ideal for borders, mixed shrub plantings, containers, or as a year-round focal point.

Its striking leaf colours make it an unusual and decorative choice for gardeners who want something a little different from the usual evergreens.

Care Guide

Pseudowintera colorata is easy to grow and adapts well to most gardens with just a little care.

Planting

• When to plant: Best in spring or autumn when soil is moist and workable.

• Depth & spacing: Plant at the same depth as the pot, spacing 1–1.5m apart for borders.

• Preparation: Enrich soil with compost before planting to encourage strong establishment.

Watering & Feeding

• Water regularly during the first year to help roots establish.

• Once mature, it is reasonably drought-tolerant but prefers occasional watering in prolonged dry periods.

• Feed in spring with a general-purpose fertiliser or mulch with organic matter to encourage fresh growth and maintain healthy colour.

Pruning & Maintenance

• Requires very little pruning – simply remove any damaged or overcrowded stems in spring.

• Light trimming after flowering can help maintain shape if needed.

• Mulch annually with bark or compost to conserve soil moisture and improve fertility.

Protection

• Fully hardy, though foliage colour is strongest in cooler conditions.

• Shelter from very exposed, windy sites, which may scorch leaves.

• Generally pest- and disease-free, making it a reliable low-maintenance shrub.

Why Choose Pseudowintera colorata?

This unique shrub offers gardeners year-round foliage interest and a splash of the exotic.

• Colourful leaves: Striking marbled foliage in red, bronze, and green.

• Seasonal appeal: Colours intensify in cold weather, making it stand out in winter.

• Compact growth: Fits well in borders, mixed planting, or containers.

• Low-maintenance: Hardy, reliable, and pest-resistant.

• Versatile: Works as a feature plant, in woodland-style gardens, or alongside other evergreens.

The Pseudowintera colorata is a distinctive and dependable shrub that brings unusual foliage colour and texture to the garden all year long. Whether planted as a specimen, grouped in borders, or grown in a pot on the patio, it is guaranteed to add interest, resilience, and charm.

• Size
  3 lt

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

Click here for more information about our shipping conditions.

You can pay your online order either by credit card or via Paypal.
If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.