Botanical name:

Hoheria sexstylosa

Common name(s):

Houhere , Long-leaved lacebark

About:

Houhere is a fast-growing tree characterised by its steeply ascending stems and branches that create a striking silhouette. As the tree matures, the smaller branches begin to droop or even become pendulous, lending the tree a graceful, weeping habit that enhances its overall aesthetic appeal. The foliage consists of serrated evergreen leaves that remain vibrant throughout the seasons, and during late summer to autumn, it showcases beautiful white, scented, star-shaped flowers that add a delightful fragrance to the air.

Natural habitat:
Coastal, lowland to montane riparian forest.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Wind & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

North Island from the northern Waikato and Coromandel Peninsula south to the south Wellington Coast and Wairarapa. South Island rather local and wild populations are now hard to recognise from naturalised ones. Those from North West Nelson, inland Marlborough and Banks Peninsula are probably natural. Some botanists regard all South Island occurrences of H. sexstylosa as naturalised but this seems unlikely.

Height: 6m

Flowering: 

February – May with a white coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

April - August

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food, Flowers & Riparian plantings.

How to grow:

Easy grown from fresh seed though less adaptable than H. populnea and prefers a damp soil in a sheltered site (at least until it becomes established). The juvenile foliage is unusual and very different from the adult form.

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