Fuchsia excorticata (PLUG grown) Kotukutku or Tree fuchsia Ht 4-10m
NZ native / Deciduous / Attractive to birds / Attracts bees / Container Grown
One of NZ native truly deciduous trees, losing its leaves in winter in all but the warmest areas. Attractive small flowers appear betwwen August and December. They change from greenish-yellow to purple-red. The flowers are rich in nectar and are visited by honey eating birds, especially tui, bellbirds and silvereyes. The dark purple berries, known as konini by Maori are edible and tast like tamarillos. Possums love tree fuchsia and have eaten it out of many locations. Best planted under trees in damp forest and can grow to 12m and form a trunk over 1 m in this environment.