mānatu
Plagianthus regius subsp. regius | mānatu, ribbonwood, lowland ribbonwood
A hardy, medium-sized, wind-resistant, and spreading tree with both juvenile and adult foliage phases. Young plants display a twiggy, divaricating structure with small, mid-green leaves, which are replaced by larger, birch-like leaves as the tree matures. Soon after the spring emergence of foliage, clusters of showy cream (or small yellow) flowers appear. This fast-growing, semi-deciduous tree can reach 5 meters in height and 4 meters in width, even thriving on exposed sites. It is a good choice for shelter or as a specimen tree and is commonly used in mixed plantings or revegetation programs.
typical habitat.
lowland forest
lower montane forest
coastal forest
drainage.
dry
free draining
well drained
moist
wet
sun.
full sun
partial shade
mature specifications.
height | 15m
width | 4m / 1m (trunk)
pollinators calendar.
flowering | September - November
fruiting | December - January
did you know?
The bark of the manatu tree was prized for its fibrous inner layer, which was used to make strong and durable textiles, including fishing nets and other woven items.