| When seen in full flower during late winter and spring, Kaka King will make you gasp, such is the impact of the vivid large red parrot-beak shaped flowers that hang in clusters from the bush. A selection from New Zealand's native flora sets the standard, and while it requires some work for best display, it's well worth it. | ||||||||||
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Superior kakabeak variety with bold glossy foliage and red flowers from late winter.
Hardy in most areas. Clip to retain shape. Best in good soils. Endemic to the North Island, formerly on Great Barrier Island and still present in scattered populations from the East Coast of the North Island from Te Araroa south to the northern Hawkes Bay and east to the Te Urewera National Park. Shrublands and coastal
One look at this large flowered beauty and anyone will realise that some New Zealand natives are very showy indeed. In spring, for a period of six weeks or so, the arching branches of Clianthus Kaka King drip with gorgeous scarlet flowers, their shape just like a big parrots beak, or over-size ear rings, depending on your imagination. Its a mighty fine shrub to use as a feature in a sunny part of the garden and if given a moderate pruning soon after flowering it will remain bushy and handsome.
Kaka King can be used in a mixed shrub border and is flamboyant enough that it can fit happily into the most cutting edge of Pacific Rim style gardens. It can be trained to spread out against a wall, which is how they grow it in England, or persuaded to grow on a tall trunk with weeping branches. Try it with kowhais and abutilons - like them it is a good attractor of nectar eating native birds such as tui, bellbirds and waxeyes. It also mixes well with bold foliage plants - Cordyline Emerald Goddess in mild winter areas, or Cordyline Red Star or Purple Tower where winters are frosty and with native grasses such as Carex testacea and Chionochloa flavicans.