hangehange
Geniostoma ligustrifolium var. ligustrifolium | hangehange, New Zealand privet
Recognised for its sweet, distinctive vanilla or hyacinth-like aroma that permeates the air on calm evenings, especially during its late spring flowering with small greenish-white blooms. This shrub features slender, brittle branches adorned with bright, glossy, lime green, pointed oval leaves. In late summer, its green capsules mature into dry black ones that split open, revealing small orange seeds. Hangehange is a useful filler or bush edge plant that also works well for underplanting and trims nicely.
typical habitat.
coastal forest
lowland forest
drainage.
well drained
free draining
sun.
full sun
partial shade
mature specifications.
height | 3m
width | 2m
pollinators calendar.
flowering | October-November
fruiting | February-March
did you know?
Historically, Hangehange leaves were a key flavoring in Māori cuisine; they were used to wrap kumara and cabbage tree roots before being cooked in a hāngī imparting a unique taste to the meal. The plant's bark also had various applications: it could be pulped to create a black dye, and its sap was prepared as a lotion to treat children's sores and itchy skin.