Botanical name:

Pomaderris apetala

Common name(s):

Tainui, New Zealand hazel

About:

An upright shrub native to localised areas of North Taranaki, this plant reaches heights of 2 to 4 meters. It features oval, leathery leaves that showcase a rich dark green colour, complemented by an attractive wrinkled surface and a felted texture beneath. In the spring season, clusters of tiny buff flowers make their appearance, adding a delicate touch to its overall charm. This tidy tree is particularly well-suited for coastal areas, where it serves a practical purpose as shelter or hedging. If planted in nutrient-rich soil, regular pruning will be necessary to maintain a bushy and well-defined shape.

Natural habitat:

In its natural state this species appears to favour winds-horn coastal forest and scrub. It has however, naturalised extensively in the drier parts of Canterbury within grey scrub and tussock grassland. It also naturalises well under pines and has been found naturalised in mutton bird scrub on Stewart Island.

Growing environment:

Sun, Drought, Salt, Wind, Coastal & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

In New Zealand, in a presumably natural state, this species was recorded from the western North Island at scattered sites between the Kawhia Harbour, Marokopa, Awakino, Mokau and Mohakatino, it is now only known from two sites in this area, Mokau and at the Mohakatino River mouth. Despite its natural scarcity this species has naturalised extremely well in the drier parts of the eastern South Island, on Stewart Island, and in the North Island around Wellington, Napier and in some locations around Hamilton and Cambridge.

Height: 4m

Flowering: 

November - February with a green - yellow coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

January - March, though this can vary.

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant & Bee food, Shelter belts & Hedging

How to grow:

Easy from fresh seed or cuttings. Does best in a sunny, open, or exposed site and prefers nutrient poor soils. An excellent shelter belt plant.

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