Botanical name:

Carmichaelia muritai

Common name(s):

Coastal tree brooms

About:

This species is truly a glorious sight to behold when it is in full bloom, showcasing delicate white flowers beautifully veined with a striking violet hue. It bears a resemblance to C. stevensoni but is distinguished by its more upright growth habit, which adds to its overall elegance and appeal in the garden.

Natural habitat:

Deeply eroded coastal cliffs on coarse, free draining gravel and loess, colluvial fans below cliffs.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Drought, coastal, Wind & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s South Island in Marlborough, in the vicinity of Clifford Bay

Height: 6m

Flowering:

December - January with a violet/purple or white coloured flower/s.

Fruiting:

Present throughout the year

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food & Flowers

How to grow:

Easy from fresh seed. The hard seed coat should be chipped or sanded to expose the endosperm, this action greatly increases the chances of germination success. It can be grown from hard wood cuttings but these are difficult to strike. Best planted in a free draining, fertile soil in a sunny, sheltered position. Although it does well in exposed sites, better results seem to be obtained from specimens planted next to a wall or with some shelter from strong winds. Once planted this species does not transplant well, and it resents any form of root disturbance. Like many native brooms that have evolved in the drier eastern South Island, this species does not thrive in humid climates.