Propagation
Sow fresh seeds during spring in pots or boxes. Transplant seedlings into a prepared bed with added organic matter.
Division of suckers during spring.


Botanic information
Leaf: The large broad bright green elliptical leaves have a prominent yellowish midrib, short petiole and abruptly acuminate apex. Mature leaves are glabrous above and tawny, tomentose beneath. They are arranged oppositely or in whorls on 4-angled branchlets.

Flower: The small salverform flowers have 5-7 calyx lobes and 5-7 petals with up to 6-stamens. The flowers are arranged in a cyme that is then arranged in a terminal panicle to 350mm (14in) wide and appear during summer. The inflorescence is a feature of the plant and is bee attractive.

Fruit: The pubescent globose drupe is 4-lobed and is encased in the inflated calyx that is up to 25mm (1in) wide. The seeds are viable but the plant may be reproduced vegetatively.

Note
The timber is widely used in outdoor furniture and boat building. It has been used for thousands of years but, the current demand for the timber is causing a huge deforestation problem as legal and illegal harvesting is carried out.

The timber has a high resistance to fungal decay; land based insect attack and marine borer infestations.