Botanical name:

Freycinetia banksii 

Common name(s):

Kiekie

About:

Kiekie can be found thriving in the bush throughout New Zealand, although it is notably more common in the South Island. It features long, thick stems that gracefully climb up tree trunks or spread out across the ground, topped with large, lush clumps of arching leaves. The sweet, edible fruit produced by Kiekie is appreciated and enjoyed by various wildlife, including birds, rats, and possums. It is known to be slow to establish in garden settings, requiring consistently moist, rich soil and a shaded environment to flourish properly.

Natural habitat: 

Coastal to montane forest, usually in wet sites although once established it can tolerate very dry conditions. Often coastal in karst country where it may form huge tangles that make access extremely difficult.

Growing environment:

Shade, Wetland, Wind, Coastal, Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North and South Islands to about the Clarence river in the east and Fiordland in the west. More common in the wetter parts of the South Island.

Height: 3m

Flowering:  

August – November with a green/white coloured flower/s 

Fruiting:

January - May

Uses: 

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food, Forests & Food

How to grow:

Easy from fresh seed and rooted pieces but tends to be quite to slow to establish. An attractive vine with beautiful edible flowers and fruits. It deserves to be more widely grown. 

** Seed germinates without pre treatment. 4 weeks cold stratification will help speed this up though