Botanical name:

Knightia excelsa

Common name(s):

NZ Honeysuckle, Rewarewa

About:

A tall cylindrical tree with abundant dark green, jagged, leathery leaves and dense clusters of reddish flowers, frequently found in regenerating forests of the North Island and Marlborough Sounds. Due to its rapid growth and adaptability to exposed conditions, rewarewa is often present in regrowth forests along tracks and on banks. Its characteristic red flowers bloom around Labour weekend, serving as a valuable nectar source for tui, bellbird, and silvereye. The seed capsules mature in early winter, splitting open to disperse winged seeds carried by the wind.

Natural habitat:

A common tree of coastal, lowland and lower montane shrubland, secondary regrowth, and on occasion mature forest. Frost-tender when young so generally scarce from cooler, frost-prone habitats - nevertheless it can be very common in suitable sites on the Central Volcanic Plateau of the North Island.

Growing environment:

Coastal & Drought tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North and South Islands. Common in the North Island, but confined to the Marlborough Sounds in the South Island.

Height: 30m

Flowering: 

(September-) October-December with a brown or red/pink coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

October-January (fruit takes a year to mature, so fruit and flowers may co-occur)

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food, Forests & Timber.

How to grow:

Easily grown from fresh seed, cuttings are very difficult to strike. Young plants are very quick growing but cold-sensitive.

** Seed germinates without pre treatment. Sow seed direct & keep moist until germination is complete.