Kōwhai - rich with history and a feast for our native birds

In this instalment of our monthly horticulture blog we’re focusing on a native tree that most kiwis know and love – the iconic kōwhai!

Yellow in name and in nature, kōwhai literally means ‘yellow’ in Te Reo Māori. Its burst of bright golden-yellow flowers herald the start of spring each year, and if you’re lucky you may just hear the swoosh of feathers and melodious tittering of native birds as they alight on a branch.

You might be surprised to learn that there are eight different species of Sophora (kōwhai) in Aotearoa, each having different growth habits, leaves, flowers, flowering times, and have acclimatised to diverse habitats throughout the country.

A great source of kai for our nectar-eating birds, the kōwhai blooms through July to November and will be frequented by tui, korimako (bellbird), kākā and kererū. As many of you will know, the kōwhai flower is especially desirable to tui – who will fly great distances to sample its delicious nectar. But it’s the hungry kererū, Aotearoa’s Bird of the Year 2018, that loves to feast on kōwhai leaves and tender young leaf shoots.

As our unofficial national tree, kōwhai also carries a great cultural significance in Aotearoa’s history. Māori make use of the bark, flowers, leaves and juice for traditional rongoa (medicine). Kōwhai bark can be heated over hot stones to make a drink for treating internal pains, bruises or broken limbs. There is even a special juice wai kōwhai to apply in case of a seal bite!

Changes in the natural world signalled to early Māori, the right time to sow and to harvest - both on the land and in the sea. When the first yellow flowers of kōwhai appeared, certain iwi knew this as the best time for planting kumara. The yellow pigment of the flowers was also used to create a dye for clothes and adornments.

You can give Aotearoa’s wildlife a much-needed helping hand by growing native plants in your backyard. Kōwhai will grow in both full sun and semi-shade as long as the soil is kept moist, and not wet. Specific cultivars like Dragon’s Gold are also suitable for use as hedging. 

Wide-spread natives, like kowhai, will have regional differences depending on where they are found. This means there are unique sub-species and varieties specific to different parts of Aotearoa. We would recommend spending a little more time to source the right species for your area, allowing it to flourish in the climate and conditions it is used to. 

Stay tuned for the next blog in this series and if you have any recommendations on plants we should cover or questions for our horticulture experts, flick us an email!