This plant is endemic in Wellington region. In the home garden will grow to 2m high. Used widely in revegetation projects, it has a number of amenity uses and is ideal for screening and hedging. The long sweetly scented flowers, which appear usually July to October, can be lilac, mauve or white in colour. Flowering can also occur sporadically throughout the year. Plant in full sun or semi shade. Will tolerate poor soils and drought and strong winds and coastal conditions. Trim back after flowering. Not suited to wet conditions.
MEDICINAL: Used by Māori and settler, especially as a remedy for diarrhoea.
Tender leaves bruised, applied as poultice for ulcers.
Decoction of young leaves for diarrhoea, dysentery.
Given in proportion to age. Six buds for a child under six years of age, and so on up to twelve for an adult. Chewed very slowly for vomiting. Used in vapour baths. Sap used for children's skin disease.
Dried leaves were sent to Egypt in the war of 1914-1918 for the use of Māori troops.
Young shoots, leaves dried, later boiled, or boiled green or eaten raw for dysenteryor `summer sickness'. Bay of Plenty Māori used it for kidney and bladder troubles.
FOOD :Used with kawakawa and karamū leaves to line hangi.
