Kaka beak

Flowers

This is a quick growing shrub is endemic to New Zealand. It grows to 1-2m in 2-3 years. The flowers look like large red pea blossoms, and is especially attractive to nectar feeding birds. Plants flower from their second year and usually put on a spectacular display in late Winter / early Spring.

The journals of both Cook and Surville mentioned cultivation of this plant by the Maori for the flowers. Seed pods are said to be edible, though I haven't tried them myself.

Kaka beak is now very rare in the wild, being restricted to only several pockets in the North Island. It is listed as "Nationally Critical".

Click on any picture to enlarge.

See also:  NZ Natives, Trees & shrubs, Culture / Germination

Flowers