A tough and highly adaptable New Zealand coastal native, Mākaka forms a dense mass of silvery stems and small green leaves, complemented by sweetly scented cream flowers in spring. Exceptionally tolerant of salt, wind, and waterlogged soils, it is an excellent choice for coastal restoration, wetland margins, riparian planting, low shelter, and hardy native hedging.
🌱 Plant Facts
• Growth habit: Dense, spreading and intricately branched shrub
• Stems: Slender, distinctive silvery-grey branches
• Foliage: Small green leaves
• Flowers: Small cream to pale yellow flowers with a strong, sweet fragrance
• Flowering: Spring
• Fruiting: December–February
• Height: Up to 4 m
🌍 Natural Habitat
• Sheltered coastal shorelines
• Salt marshes and coastal wetlands
• Estuaries
• Sandy coastal banks
• Tidal and brackish environments
• Coastal scrub and wetland margins
🌿 Growing Environment
• Full sun to partial shade
• Salt tolerant
• Wetland tolerant
• Wind tolerant
• Coastal tolerant
• Tolerates poorly drained and waterlogged soils
Mākaka is particularly valuable in difficult coastal and wetland situations where many other woody native species struggle. It tolerates periodic inundation, saline conditions, strong winds, and consistently wet soils.
📍 Endemic Distribution
• Endemic to New Zealand
• Widespread in suitable coastal habitats throughout the country
🌾 Uses
• Coastal restoration
• Saltmarsh and estuarine restoration
• Riparian plantings
• Wetland planting
• Hedging
• Low shelter and screening
• Erosion control
• Wildlife and biodiversity plantings
🪴 Cultivation Notes (Live Plant)
A hardy, easy-care native shrub ideally suited to challenging coastal and wetland environments. Mākaka establishes readily in moist to waterlogged soils and handles salt-laden winds particularly well. It can be left to develop its naturally tangled form for restoration planting or regularly trimmed to produce a dense, resilient hedge or low shelter.
📏 Approximate product size:
• PB3/4 (5–20 cm, 350 ml)
• PB3 (20–70 cm, 1.5 L)
• PB8 (50 cm+, 3.5 L)
• PB18 (1 m+, 8.5 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.
A tough and highly adaptable New Zealand coastal native, Mākaka forms a dense mass of silvery stems and small green leaves, complemented by sweetly scented cream flowers in spring. Exceptionally tolerant of salt, wind, and waterlogged soils, it is an excellent choice for coastal restoration, wetland margins, riparian planting, low shelter, and hardy native hedging.
🌱 Plant Facts
• Growth habit: Dense, spreading and intricately branched shrub
• Stems: Slender, distinctive silvery-grey branches
• Foliage: Small green leaves
• Flowers: Small cream to pale yellow flowers with a strong, sweet fragrance
• Flowering: Spring
• Fruiting: December–February
• Height: Up to 4 m
🌍 Natural Habitat
• Sheltered coastal shorelines
• Salt marshes and coastal wetlands
• Estuaries
• Sandy coastal banks
• Tidal and brackish environments
• Coastal scrub and wetland margins
🌿 Growing Environment
• Full sun to partial shade
• Salt tolerant
• Wetland tolerant
• Wind tolerant
• Coastal tolerant
• Tolerates poorly drained and waterlogged soils
Mākaka is particularly valuable in difficult coastal and wetland situations where many other woody native species struggle. It tolerates periodic inundation, saline conditions, strong winds, and consistently wet soils.
📍 Endemic Distribution
• Endemic to New Zealand
• Widespread in suitable coastal habitats throughout the country
🌾 Uses
• Coastal restoration
• Saltmarsh and estuarine restoration
• Riparian plantings
• Wetland planting
• Hedging
• Low shelter and screening
• Erosion control
• Wildlife and biodiversity plantings
🪴 Cultivation Notes (Live Plant)
A hardy, easy-care native shrub ideally suited to challenging coastal and wetland environments. Mākaka establishes readily in moist to waterlogged soils and handles salt-laden winds particularly well. It can be left to develop its naturally tangled form for restoration planting or regularly trimmed to produce a dense, resilient hedge or low shelter.
📏 Approximate product size:
• PB3/4 (5–20 cm, 350 ml)
• PB3 (20–70 cm, 1.5 L)
• PB8 (50 cm+, 3.5 L)
• PB18 (1 m+, 8.5 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.
