kohia

Passiflora tetrandra | kohia, native passionflower

 

New Zealand’s only native passionflower, is a vigorous evergreen climber found naturally in forest margins and canopy layers. It carries glossy mid green leaves and small, scented cream flowers in spring. Plants are dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Female vines produce bright orange fruit that is inedible to people but highly attractive to birds.

In the wild, kōhia often goes unnoticed until flowers or fruit fall to the forest floor, revealing the presence of thick, twisting stems that can sprawl across the ground before climbing high into the canopy. In cultivation it is well suited to covering fences, pergolas, walls, or established trees where quick, dense cover is desired.