Botanical name:

Ixerba brexioides

Common name(s):

Tawari, whakou

About:

Tawari is typically found thriving within lush forests situated at elevations of up to 900 m in the upper North Island. This remarkable tree can grow to a height ranging from 4 to 10 meters and features leathery, shiny, lance-shaped leaves that exhibit a coarse serrated edge. The starry white flowers, which are quite striking, boast five distinct petals, each being accompanied by a prominent stamen, and these beautiful flowers are borne in elegant panicles during the summer season. Notably, the tree is known for its slow growth rate, which can make it somewhat challenging to establish successfully in a garden setting. It prefers a shaded and moist environment to thrive, although in more humid areas, it requires less moisture than one might expect.

Natural habitat:

Often but not exclusively an associate of kauri (Agathis australis) forest. Also common in montane cloud forest up to 900m. Prefers shaded or sheltered sites, often near streams and in permanently damp ground. Can be locally abundant in some areas but otherwise it is rather sporadic in its occurrences,

Growing environment:

Shade, Wetland & Wind tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s upper North Island, widespread from about Kaitaia south to Waitomo, Paeroa Range and Te Urewera.

Height: 10m

Flowering: 

(September-) October-November (-December) with a white coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

November - January (-March)

Uses:

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

How to grow:

Difficult to grow. It has been suggested that the species is mycorrhizal, and there is some evidence that if planted in association with Griselinia littoralis, Ixerba grows very easily. Propagation is by seed or cuttings.

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