One of New Zealand’s most distinctive native forest climbers, Supplejack is a vigorous woody vine with tough, flexible stems that weave their way through surrounding vegetation toward the forest canopy. Its glossy foliage and clusters of bright red berries make it an excellent addition to larger native gardens, forest restoration projects, and biodiversity plantings where it has plenty of room and suitable trees or structures to climb.
🌱 Plant Facts
• Growth habit: Vigorous woody climbing vine or liana
• Stems: Tough, hard and remarkably flexible
• Young growth: New stems search for surrounding vegetation or structures to climb
• Growth rate: Vigorous once established, with actively growing summer shoots capable of rapid extension
• Flowers: Small green to yellow flowers
• Flowering: October–May
• Fruit: Clusters of conspicuous red berries
• Fruiting: Fruit may be present throughout the year
• Height: Climbs 6 m or more when suitable support is available
🌍 Natural Habitat
• Coastal to montane environments
• Lowland and montane native forest
• Damp forest and rainforest
• Swamps, where it may scramble through flax and ferns
• Karst landscapes
• Dolines, tomo and around cave entrances
🌿 Growing Environment
• Shade to partial shade at ground level
• Moist soils preferred
• Wetland tolerant
• Wind tolerant once protected within surrounding vegetation
• Requires trees, shrubs or another suitable structure for climbing
Supplejack naturally establishes on the shaded forest floor before climbing through surrounding vegetation towards stronger light. It performs best where its roots remain cool and moist while the developing vines are able to climb towards the sun.
📍 Endemic Distribution
• Endemic to New Zealand
• Naturally found throughout the North, South, Stewart/Rakiura and Chatham Islands
🌾 Uses
• Native bird food and attractant
• Bee and pollinator food
• Native forest restoration
• Biodiversity and wildlife planting
• Woodland and forest gardens
• Naturalistic revegetation
• Native climbing plant for larger properties
🪴 Cultivation Notes (Live Plant)
An easy and rewarding native climber when planted in an appropriate location. Supplejack prefers moist soil and a shaded or semi-shaded position with nearby trees, shrubs, or a strong structure that its stems can climb through. Once established, growth can become vigorous as the vines reach towards better light. Allow plenty of room for development, as mature plants can climb well into the surrounding canopy and are best suited to larger native gardens, restoration sites, and forest environments.
📏 Approximate product size:
• PB3/4 (5–20 cm, 350 ml)
• PB3 (20–70 cm, 1.5 L)
• PB8 (50 cm+, 3.5 L)
⏱️ Timeframe:
We ship Monday – Wednesday for South Island customers and Monday/Tuesday for Rural and North Island customers. Orders placed outside these days will be fulfilled the following week.
📦 Local pick ups and/or deliveries will be made by arrangement.
🌱 We’ll donate $1 per plant sold to national conservation efforts, helping to protect and restore New Zealand’s natural heritage.
One of New Zealand’s most distinctive native forest climbers, Supplejack is a vigorous woody vine with tough, flexible stems that weave their way through surrounding vegetation toward the forest canopy. Its glossy foliage and clusters of bright red berries make it an excellent addition to larger native gardens, forest restoration projects, and biodiversity plantings where it has plenty of room and suitable trees or structures to climb.
🌱 Plant Facts
• Growth habit: Vigorous woody climbing vine or liana
• Stems: Tough, hard and remarkably flexible
• Young growth: New stems search for surrounding vegetation or structures to climb
• Growth rate: Vigorous once established, with actively growing summer shoots capable of rapid extension
• Flowers: Small green to yellow flowers
• Flowering: October–May
• Fruit: Clusters of conspicuous red berries
• Fruiting: Fruit may be present throughout the year
• Height: Climbs 6 m or more when suitable support is available
🌍 Natural Habitat
• Coastal to montane environments
• Lowland and montane native forest
• Damp forest and rainforest
• Swamps, where it may scramble through flax and ferns
• Karst landscapes
• Dolines, tomo and around cave entrances
🌿 Growing Environment
• Shade to partial shade at ground level
• Moist soils preferred
• Wetland tolerant
• Wind tolerant once protected within surrounding vegetation
• Requires trees, shrubs or another suitable structure for climbing
Supplejack naturally establishes on the shaded forest floor before climbing through surrounding vegetation towards stronger light. It performs best where its roots remain cool and moist while the developing vines are able to climb towards the sun.
📍 Endemic Distribution
• Endemic to New Zealand
• Naturally found throughout the North, South, Stewart/Rakiura and Chatham Islands
🌾 Uses
• Native bird food and attractant
• Bee and pollinator food
• Native forest restoration
• Biodiversity and wildlife planting
• Woodland and forest gardens
• Naturalistic revegetation
• Native climbing plant for larger properties
🪴 Cultivation Notes (Live Plant)
An easy and rewarding native climber when planted in an appropriate location. Supplejack prefers moist soil and a shaded or semi-shaded position with nearby trees, shrubs, or a strong structure that its stems can climb through. Once established, growth can become vigorous as the vines reach towards better light. Allow plenty of room for development, as mature plants can climb well into the surrounding canopy and are best suited to larger native gardens, restoration sites, and forest environments.
📏 Approximate product size:
• PB3/4 (5–20 cm, 350 ml)
• PB3 (20–70 cm, 1.5 L)
• PB8 (50 cm+, 3.5 L)
⏱️ Timeframe:
We ship Monday – Wednesday for South Island customers and Monday/Tuesday for Rural and North Island customers. Orders placed outside these days will be fulfilled the following week.
📦 Local pick ups and/or deliveries will be made by arrangement.
🌱 We’ll donate $1 per plant sold to national conservation efforts, helping to protect and restore New Zealand’s natural heritage.
