A distinctive and culturally important New Zealand native shrub, kawakawa is instantly recognised by its aromatic, heart-shaped leaves and zig-zag branching. It is a key understory species in coastal forest and an excellent choice for regeneration and native planting projects in mild climates.
🌱 Plant Facts
Growth habit: Shrub to small tree
Foliage: Heart-shaped, aromatic leaves with a peppery scent and flavour; often with natural insect holes
Leaf colour: Dark green to yellow-green (lighter in more open sites)
Branches: Dark brown, zig-zag, swollen at the nodes
Fruit: Yellow to orange, an important food source for native birds
Height: Up to 6 m
Flowering: August – November (flowers inconspicuous)
Fruiting: Present throughout the year
🌍 Natural Habitat
Coastal to lowland forest, extending up to 500 m in warmer regions
Typically a dominant understory species in coastal forest ecosystems
🌿 Growing Environment
Shade tolerant (very shade-adapted)
Salt tolerant
Coastal tolerant
Free-draining soils preferred
⚠️ Frost tender – requires shelter from cold and is best suited to frost-free or very mild sites.
📍 Endemic Distribution
Native to New Zealand
Common from Te Paki south to Okarito, North Canterbury, and Banks Peninsula
🌾 Uses
Bird food and attractant
Forest and understory plantings
Regeneration plantings
Medicinal and cultural uses
Coastal restoration projects
🪴 Cultivation Notes (Live Plant)
A fast-establishing and attractive shrub that performs best in dappled light with permanently moist but free-draining soil. Extremely shade tolerant and ideal for planting beneath canopy trees or along sheltered coastal margins. Protect from frost and cold winds, particularly when young.
Approximate product size:
• PB3/4 (5cm – 20cm, 350ml)
• PB3 (20cm – 70cm, 1.5L)
• PB8 (50cm+, 3.5L)
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”
A distinctive and culturally important New Zealand native shrub, kawakawa is instantly recognised by its aromatic, heart-shaped leaves and zig-zag branching. It is a key understory species in coastal forest and an excellent choice for regeneration and native planting projects in mild climates.
🌱 Plant Facts
Growth habit: Shrub to small tree
Foliage: Heart-shaped, aromatic leaves with a peppery scent and flavour; often with natural insect holes
Leaf colour: Dark green to yellow-green (lighter in more open sites)
Branches: Dark brown, zig-zag, swollen at the nodes
Fruit: Yellow to orange, an important food source for native birds
Height: Up to 6 m
Flowering: August – November (flowers inconspicuous)
Fruiting: Present throughout the year
🌍 Natural Habitat
Coastal to lowland forest, extending up to 500 m in warmer regions
Typically a dominant understory species in coastal forest ecosystems
🌿 Growing Environment
Shade tolerant (very shade-adapted)
Salt tolerant
Coastal tolerant
Free-draining soils preferred
⚠️ Frost tender – requires shelter from cold and is best suited to frost-free or very mild sites.
📍 Endemic Distribution
Native to New Zealand
Common from Te Paki south to Okarito, North Canterbury, and Banks Peninsula
🌾 Uses
Bird food and attractant
Forest and understory plantings
Regeneration plantings
Medicinal and cultural uses
Coastal restoration projects
🪴 Cultivation Notes (Live Plant)
A fast-establishing and attractive shrub that performs best in dappled light with permanently moist but free-draining soil. Extremely shade tolerant and ideal for planting beneath canopy trees or along sheltered coastal margins. Protect from frost and cold winds, particularly when young.
Approximate product size:
• PB3/4 (5cm – 20cm, 350ml)
• PB3 (20cm – 70cm, 1.5L)
• PB8 (50cm+, 3.5L)
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”
