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bastard guelder (Premna serratifolia)

Premna serratifolia is a perennial evergreen woody plant, growing as a shrub to small tree with many branches; branches may sometimes creep along the ground and root where they make contact.

LightPremna serratifolia is reported to grow in full sun to partial shade, while indoor cultivation calls for bright light.
WaterIt is reported to require regular watering while tolerating short periods of drought.
TemperatureIt is reported to be frost tender and should be kept above freezing.
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Overview

Premna serratifolia is a perennial evergreen woody plant, growing as a shrub to small tree with many branches; branches may sometimes creep along the ground and root where they make contact.

Origin and habitat

Premna serratifolia is widespread across East Africa, the Indian Ocean region, tropical Asia, Australia, and Pacific islands; it occurs in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan and has native populations in Taiwan, where it is not endemic. It commonly occurs near coasts in habitats including moist sandy soils, calcareous ground, scrub, mangrove margins, raised coastal coral reefs, and secondary forest vegetation; records from southern China also include open woodland on slopes and stream banks. Its distribution is mainly in warm regions, including tropical Asia and areas extending from East Africa to Australia and the Pacific islands, and it commonly grows near coasts.

Characteristics

Sources differ on mature height, reporting about 300–1000 cm. Sources differ in their descriptions of the leaves: they are opposite, simple, and papery, with shapes ranging from ovate-elliptic to ovate, elliptic, or elliptic-oblong; the base ranges from acute or obtuse to rounded or cordate, the tip may be acuminate, short-pointed, or obtuse, and the margin may be entire or slightly toothed. Sources differ in some floral details, describing terminal corymbose to paniculate cymes with small white to greenish-white bisexual flowers; accounts of flowering and fruiting periods also differ by region or cultivation conditions, with records including spring and summer as well as flowering and fruiting throughout the year. Sources differ in fruit descriptions; the fruit is a nearly spherical drupe that matures from purple to black and retains the calyx at its base.

Light

Premna serratifolia is reported to grow in full sun to partial shade, while indoor cultivation calls for bright light.

Watering

It is reported to require regular watering while tolerating short periods of drought.

Temperature and dormancy

It is reported to be frost tender and should be kept above freezing.

Growing medium and mounting

In the wild, it can grow in moist sandy soils and on calcareous substrates.

Feeding

Cultivation information generally recommends fertilizing each season.

Propagation

It is reported to be propagated by layering and cuttings, with both methods described as easy to succeed with.

Common problems

It is reported to be sensitive to frost and should be protected from freezing; container-grown plants in cold regions may be moved indoors during winter.

Identification

Premna serratifolia can be recognized as an evergreen woody plant with opposite leaves, broad flat to shallowly domed terminal corymbose flower clusters, and spherical drupes retaining the calyx at the base; leaf and calyx form is notably variable.

Photos

Premna serratifolia
📷 Tauʻolunga · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Premna serratifolia
📷 呂一起(Lyu yi-chi), some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by 呂 · CC BY · source
Premna serratifolia
📷 Dominik Maximilián Ramík, some rights reserved (CC BY), uplo · CC BY · source

Sources