tūmatakuru

Discaria toumatou | matagouri, tūmatakuru

 

Commonly found in dry shrublands, its tough, wiry, thorny branches and small, leathery leaves evoke rugged landscapes. While its white flowers are inconspicuous, they release a sweet scent in late summer. As a nitrogen-fixing species, it's a beneficial and interestingly wild addition to gardens. Ideal for dry, coastal, and low-maintenance settings, it forms excellent natural hedges or protective borders, its thorns deterring wildlife while providing shelter for small birds. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, demonstrating strong drought tolerance once established. For optimal development of its spreading form, space plants approximately 1 meter apart.

shrubland

dunes

tussock grasslands

scrubland

dunefields

dry

free draining

well drained

moist

full sun

partial shade

height | Mostly a shrub, but can be up to 5m

width | 2m / 15cm (trunk)

flowering | October - January

fruiting |  December - March

While widespread and likely secure across much of the South Island, Discaria toumatou has become exceedingly rare and is threatened throughout the North Island, where only a few locations with viable populations remain. The reasons for this decline are not detailed, but habitat loss is likely a significant contributing factor.