Common Native Broom

Botanical name: Carmichaelia australis
Synonyms: Carmichaelia violacea, Carmichaelia solandri, Carmichaelia subulata, Carmichaelia rivulata, Carmichaelia robusta, Carmichaelia silvatica, Carmichaelia ovata, Carmichaelia hookeri, Carmichaelia cunninghamii, Carmichaelia flagelliformis, Carmichaelia egmontiana, Carmichaelia aligera, Carmichaelia arenaria
Common name(s): Common native broom, Mākaka, Maukoro, Tainoka, Taunoka, Taranagahape

About:
A distinctive endemic native broom forming an open shrub or small tree with many flattened green stems clustered along grey-brown branches. Mostly leafless as an adult, it uses its flattened stems for photosynthesis and produces small white pea flowers marked with purple in spring and summer.

Natural habitat:
River terraces, stream banks, rock outcrops, talus slopes, fan toe slopes, tussock grassland, grey scrub, forest margins, bush edges and swamp margins.

Growing environment:
Prefers full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil. Tolerates drought, wind, frost and exposed sites, but dislikes prolonged waterlogging and heavy weed competition.

Endemic distribution:
Endemic to New Zealand. Found in the North and South Islands, though absent from the southern South Island.

Height:
2–8 m tall

Width:
2–5 m wide

Flowering:
October – February

Fruiting:
November – May

Uses:

• Native shrubland restoration
• Dryland planting
• Forest-edge planting
• River terrace restoration
• Rock garden planting
• Native revegetation
• Pollinator support
• Shelter and habitat planting

Appearance:

Growth habit:
Upright to spreading shrub or small tree with grey-brown branches and clusters of flattened photosynthetic stems.

Leaves:
Adult plants are mostly leafless, with leaves reduced to tiny scales. Seedlings and young plants may produce small fleshy leaves with one to three leaflets.

Stems:
Green, yellow-green or brown-green flattened cladodes form the main visible foliage and carry out photosynthesis.

Flowers:
Small white pea flowers with purple veining and a purple centre, produced in clusters along the stems.

Fruit:
Small dry pods that mature brown, grey or black and split open to reveal hard orange, red, green or mottled seeds.

Ecology:
A nitrogen-fixing shrub that improves soil fertility and supports a range of insects, including native aphids, beetles, moths, butterflies, flies, sucking bugs and bees. It is part of many open shrubland, riparian and forest-edge ecosystems.

Associated habitats:
River terraces, dry banks, rocky slopes, forest margins, grey scrub, tussock grassland, stream banks, colluvium and swamp edges.

How to grow:
Grow in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil. Water during establishment, then allow plants to harden off. Avoid poorly drained sites and keep young plants free from smothering weeds.

Propagation:
Readily propagated from seed and hardwood cuttings.

Cultural use:
Known by several Māori names including Mākaka, Maukoro, Tainoka, Taunoka and Taranagahape. It is part of the indigenous broom flora of Aotearoa and has a place in traditional plant knowledge and whakataukī.

Garden value:
A distinctive architectural native shrub with fine green stems, attractive flowers and strong ecological value. Useful for dryland gardens, restoration plantings and naturalistic landscapes where a tough, drought-tolerant native shrub is needed.