A somewhat rare plant, native to New Zealand, but ocasionally cultivated, and critically endangered (near extinction) in wilderness, so t...Read Morehe species is rather dependant in human cultivation.
Rather easy to grow so far, and it was easy to germinate. Got seed through ebay, I cut a bit of the seed coat with a knife and then put it in moist paper, inside plastic bag, in top of a radiator. All seeds germinated well and quickly.
The plant is rather pest-sensitive, but still easy to grow so far. Quite drought tolerant, but protect from slugs, I heard they can kill your plant quickly. Also sensitive to thrips but so far is doing fine. Assure nice growing conditions, well drained soil. I am trying cuttings now, I heard you can do it. My hope is then to get it to flower to produce seeds, which not only germinate well but can be stored for decades.
Facts about kakabeak;
This is a native shrub af New Zealand
Kowhai ngutukaka or kakabeak is a shrub found only in New Zeala...Read Morend. It is a member of the pea family and its closest relatives are in Australia. In spring it produces stunning large red flowers which hang in clusters of 15-20 blooms.
It has bright green seedpods which turn brown and split open when dry. These pods contain large numbers of tightly packed small black seeds.
Plants can grow up to 2-3m tall, producing long, trailing stems that form new plants when they come into contact with soil. In this way, one parent plant can cover a large area.
The kowhai ngutukaka's beautiful flowers and edible seedpods have long made this plant attractive to gardeners and were used by Maori for gifting and trading. In addition its seed remains viable for a long time and therefore can be stored and transported easily.
Kowhai ngutukaka grows in open, sunny, steep sites, often on rocky outcrops, slips, the bases of cliffs or edges of lakes and streams. It is a relatively short-lived plant, sometimes lasting 15-20 years. Kowhai ngutukaka has a long-lived seed which may still be able to germinate 30 years after being produced, creating a 'seed bank' that holds many seeds ready to germinate when conditions suit. This enables it to grow in shrubland which is not permanently open but is frequently disturbed. The seeds wait for light gaps to appear, e.g. following a treefall or a slip, and then germinate in response.
Being a member of the pea family kowhai ngutukaka can fix nitrogen, enabling it to grow in infertile sites.
This info is from the NZ Department of Conservation site.
A somewhat rare plant, native to New Zealand, but ocasionally cultivated, and critically endangered (near extinction) in wilderness, so t...Read More
Facts about kakabeak;
This is a native shrub af New Zealand
Kowhai ngutukaka or kakabeak is a shrub found only in New Zeala...Read More