04/05/2025
Plant of the month:
• Kānuka (Kunzea ericoides) is often mistaken for mānuka, but it is a distinct plant species. Kānuka can grow into a tree that reaches up to 30 meters in height. Its trunk and branches are typically covered in long, leathery strips of bark, in contrast to the short, papery, and flaky brown bark found on mānuka/kahikātoa tree forms. Additionally, kānuka leaves lack the sharp tips characteristic of mānuka/kahikātoa. The flowers of kānuka usually appear solitary but can also grow in clusters. When mature, the capsules of kānuka split open to release their seeds.
• Recent research has confirmed that kānuka is endemic to New Zealand. With the exception of Taranaki, kānuka thrives throughout lowland and mountain scrub and along forest margins in both the North and South Islands, ranging from the Three Kings Islands down to the Kawarau Gorge and Dunedin in Otago. It is not naturally found south of Dunedin. Kānuka displays a wide range of tolerances and has been noted to grow in active geothermal environments. It can be found at elevations from sea level up to 1,800 meters. This species grows well in all soil types except for waterlogged soils and is resilient to wind, drought, and frost.
• A taxonomic revision of kānuka is nearing completion, suggesting that New Zealand's K. ericoides can be divided into 11 distinct entities. One of these, known as Kunzea ericoides var. linearis, is inadequately protected and faces serious threats in many areas due to inbreeding with other kānuka varieties, habitat loss, and heavy use for firewood.
Did You Know?
• Kānuka was and is a taonga species for Māori. It has served not only as a source of rongoā (traditional medicine) but also as a hardwood timber for crafting tools and taiaha. It was also a prefered firewood. Early Māori would chew young shoots or drink a concoction made from seed capsules to treat dysentery. Boiling the bark yielded a liquid that was used to alleviate constipation, promote sleep, and reduce fever. Other medicinal uses included treating sore eyes, colic, and relieving scalds and burns. Kānuka was also used to make tools such as fern root beaters, paddles (hoi), toki handles, and manu spears.
• Early settlers struggled to clear their land and considered mānuka/kahikātoa and kānuka to be invasive shrubs disrupting their agricultural efforts. Today, however, these plants are recognized as valuable in re-vegetating bare, eroded slopes. They provide shade and shelter from wind, creating a nurturing environment for slower-growing native plants. As these other plants mature and overshadow kānuka and mānuka/kahikātoa, the latter species eventually die off due to lack of sunlight.
• Unlike many other native plants, kānuka and mānuka/kahikātoa are generally not eaten by browsing animals such as sheep, cattle, and goats. This characteristic makes them especially useful in restoration projects.
• The dense, red wood of mānuka/kahikātoa was widely utilized by Māori for a variety of purposes, including paddles, weapons, spade blades, bird spears, mauls, and even house construction. The bark was crafted into water containers, and the inner bark was used as a waterproof layer for roofing.
• Captain Cook and early settlers referred to mānuka/kahikātoa as "tea tree" because they used the green leaves to create a tea substitute. They also brewed twigs from this plant with rimu to produce beer.
• Mānuka/kahikātoa flowers emit a sweet fragrance and provide an essential source of pollen and nectar for native bees, flies, moths, beetles, and geckos. and geckos.
Get in touch with Ngā Tai Pūrua today to order this amazing plant!
