Horopito
New Zealand's native "bush pepper" (Pseudowintera colorata), with distinctively peppery, blotchy red-and-green leaves used traditionally in rongoā Māori and as a bush seasoning. It's a genuinely tricky native to establish well: it wants cool, partial shade sheltered from harsh sun and wind, soil that stays consistently moist without ever waterlogging, and resents its roots being disturbed once planted. Young plants are frost-tender and need shelter in colder gardens. Usually a tidy shrub to around 2m in cultivation, though it can reach small-tree size in the wild; growth is slow, and it rarely needs pruning once settled in.
Something wrong with your horopito?
- Sun
- partial sun
- Water
- moderate
- Spacing
- 150cm
- Difficulty
- advanced
- 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
- 2m
- Evergreen
- Yes
- Common diseases
- Root rot in poorly drained soil
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: March-April and September-October. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September-October.
Growing stages
Planting & establishmentAutumn or spring
- Choose a cool, partial-shade spot sheltered from harsh sun and wind
- Plant into free-draining soil rich in organic matter; it's prone to root rot if the ground stays wet
- Protect young plants from frost in colder gardens
Early growth
- Keep soil consistently moist, never waterlogged; it dislikes prolonged dry spells as much as wet feet
- Avoid disturbing the roots once it's in the ground
- Growth is naturally slow and can be erratic in its first couple of years
Ongoing growth
- Mulch to help retain consistent moisture and suppress competing weeds
- Rarely needs pruning; left alone it grows into a neat, dense bush
Maturity
- Established plants can have their peppery leaves picked for traditional seasoning or rongoā use
- Good drainage remains the main ongoing requirement for a mature plant's health