edenhana

Tī kōuka (cabbage tree)

An unmistakable, hardy silhouette that copes with wind, frost, drought and boggy ground alike - genuinely one of the easiest natives to grow anywhere in the country. Scented white summer flowers turn into masses of berries that kererū and tūī feast on. Can reach 12-20m over many decades, so give it space to mature even though young plants look modest for years.

Sun
full sun
Water
low
Spacing
250cm
Difficulty
beginner
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
Mature height
12m
Flowering season
Oct, Nov, Dec
Attracts wildlife
Kererū, Tūī, Bellbird/korimako, Silvereye/tauhou
Evergreen
Yes
Common diseases
Sooty mould (from scale)
Common pests
Cabbage tree scale

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: March-April and September-November. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September-November.

Growing stages

  1. Planting & establishmentFirst few months

    • Water regularly while young, even though this species copes with drought once established
    • Tolerates wind, frost and boggy ground from an early age, making it a forgiving choice for tricky sites

  2. Early growthFirst 1-2 years

    • Watch for cabbage tree scale, which can lead to sooty mould on leaves and stems
    • Growth is slow at first, so don't expect the trunk to form quickly, young plants look modest for years

  3. FloweringOctober-December

    • Scented white flower clusters turn into masses of berries that kererū and tūī feast on
    • Sooty mould from scale insects can affect flower clusters, so treat scale early if noticed

  4. Maturity

    • Established trees need very little care and cope with wind, frost, drought and boggy ground alike
    • Allow room for the eventual 12-20m height even though the tree stays modest-looking for many years

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