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.

Something wrong with your tī kōuka (cabbage tree)?

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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