Endemic. An erect bushy wetland shrub growing to 4m with long thin twigs bearing pairs of thin rounded mottled leaves on short flattened leaf stalks. Found in lowland swamps and boggy areas, poorly drained shrub land and riparian forests of the North and South Islands, with the ability to grow in water up to 30 cm deep.
With male and female varieties, the wind pollinated flowers bud on separate plants in early spring. The fruit, in generous clusters, is reddish-black with dark purple flesh. Ripening between February and June the following year they are an excellent food source for birds which then disperse the seeds and may bring in other native seeds, increasing your biodiversity naturally. Easy to grow from seed. - allow the fruit to go soft then wash away the pulp which leaves two seeds for each drupe (fruit).
Performs best in full sun or partial shade with constant moisture or waterlogged soils.
