Kānuka
Often confused with mānuka, but kānuka is generally the taller of the two and can grow into a substantial tree up to 15-30m in the wild - a good shelterbelt or shade tree over time, not a small-section shrub. Soft, feathery foliage (unlike mānuka's sharp-tipped leaves) and a mass of tiny summer flowers loved by bees. Also susceptible to myrtle rust.
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- low
- Spacing
- 200cm
- 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
- 15m
- Flowering season
- Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec
- Attracts wildlife
- Bees, Native bees, Silvereye/tauhou
- Evergreen
- Yes
- Common diseases
- Myrtle rust
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
Planting & establishmentFirst few months
- Water regularly through the first summer while roots establish, before this low-water species becomes self-sufficient
- Full sun and an open position suit this eventual shelterbelt or shade tree best
Early growthFirst 1-2 years
- Inspect new growth for signs of myrtle rust, a risk shared with mānuka and other native myrtles
- Plan for its eventual height of up to 15-30m, this is a substantial tree, not a small-section shrub
FloweringNovember-January (December-January further south)
- A mass of tiny white summer flowers is loved by bees and native bees
- Keep checking soft, feathery foliage for myrtle rust through the flowering period
Maturity
- Low-maintenance once established, tolerating poor soils and exposed sites well
- Continue watching for myrtle rust on mature trees as part of routine garden checks