kākābeak
Clianthus puniceus | kākābeak, kōwhai ngutu-kākā, kākā beak
A fast-growing, hardy, semi-evergreen shrub with graceful, fern-like foliage and arching branches. In spring and summer it produces striking clusters of bright red, parrot beak-shaped flowers that drip with nectar and attract birds. Best planted in full sun or partial shade, it thrives in moist but free-draining soils and benefits from a light trim after flowering to maintain shape. Versatile in design, it can be mass planted for dramatic effect, grown in containers, used as a backdrop for smaller plants, or positioned against walls and outdoor living areas for bold seasonal colour.
typical habitat.
Exact habitat preferences remain uncertain. Historic records often lack detail, and in many cases it is difficult to know whether specimens originated from natural sites or from Māori plantings. The only confirmed wild population occurs in short coastal scrub, growing on talus at the base of eroding mudstone cliffs.
drainage.
moist
well drained
free draining
dry
sun.
full sun
partial shade
mature specifications.
height | 2m
width | 2m
pollinators calendar.
flowering | August - January
fruiting | Seed pods may be present at any time of the year
did you know?
The natural distribution of Clianthus puniceus was once limited to the North Island of New Zealand, but it is now listed as Extinct in the Wild by the IUCN. The last wild populations were lost around 2015, with no plants found in subsequent surveys. Decline was driven by habitat loss, competition for space, browsing by introduced herbivores, and human impacts such as seed collection and the introduction of invasive species. At the same time, human intervention has also aided the species’ survival: extensive cultivation, propagation, and the creation of new habitats have ensured its persistence in gardens and collections. C. puniceus is widely grown today and is notable as one of the first endemic plants to be cultivated both within New Zealand and overseas. Valued for its striking flowers and form, its seeds were distributed from early colonial gardens to places such as California and England, and it continues to be cultivated in Europe and elsewhere.