Botanical name:

Nestegis cunninghamii

Common name(s):

Black maire

About:

Nestegis cunninghamii, commonly known as black maire, can grow to impressive heights of over 20 metres, showcasing its grandeur in the landscape. It features long, leathery leaves that exhibit a pronounced recessed mid-rib, creating a distinct appearance. The tree possesses rough, cork-like bark that adds to its unique texture and character, and it produces small yet striking fruits that can be either red or yellow in colour. Unfortunately, black maire is now found only in limited regions of the North Island's forests, a consequence of its high value as a durable hard timber and its usefulness as firewood.

Natural habitat:

Widespread in coastal to montane forest. Often prominent in riparian Podocarp forest and on the Podocarp forests developed on the ignimbrite and pumice country of the Central Volcanic Plateau. As a rule Black Maire seems to prefer more frost prone habitats than White Maire (Nestegis lanceolata) though both species often grow together. Black maire is also common host for white mistletoe (Tupeia antarctica) in the Central Volcanic Plateau, Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa.

Growing environment:

Frost & Drought tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

North, South, Hauturu (Little Barrier) and Aotea (Great Barrier) Islands of New Zealand. Scarce north of Auckland and often uncommon over wide parts of its former lowland range due to it being preferentially logged by early settlers. In the North Island Black Maire is now most commonly seen in the main Axial Ranges and Central Volcanic Plateau. In the South Island extending to Napenape in the east and near Greymouth in the west.

Height: 25m

Flowering: 

October – November with a green or white coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

December – April with a red fruit containing a single black seed.

Uses:

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

How to grow:

Easily grown from fresh seed. Difficult from cuttings. Black Maire deserves to be more widely grown as it makes an excellent specimen or street tree and once established is remarkably drought and cold tolerant. The fruit is avidly eaten by many birds especially kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae).

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