Habitat: bank, cliff, coast, dry, gravel, loam, lowland, margin, open, ridge, rock outcrop, scrubland, shaded, sheltered, shrubland, silt, slope, stone, terrace

Dispersal: Seed

Distribution from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium. CC-BY 3.0 AU
Distribution from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium. CC-BY 3.0 AU
 Recognition
  • a large evergreen shrub or tree growing up to 9 m tall.
  • its leaves (up to 10 cm long) are entire, leathery, and are alternately arranged.
  • its bell-shaped dark red flowers (about 1 cm long) are borne in small clusters (5-10 in number) at the ends of the branches.
  • these flowers and have five petals that are bent backwards at the tips.
  • its hard capsules (up to 3 cm across) split open when ripe to expose black sticky seeds.
 Images
Image: David Glenny © Landcare Research
Image: David Glenny © Landcare Research
© Tony Foster
© Tony Foster
© Tony Foster
© Tony Foster
Weeds Key – interactive key to the weed species of New Zealand
 References
Howell, C. 2008: Consolidated list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. DOC Research & Development Series 292: 42.