Growing Kawakawa from cuttings
Did you know that you can grow kawakawa from cuttings?
Kawakawa is rongoā Māori that is held in high regard. It had been told to contain all of the healing properties of all the native NZ plants combined,
It’s use is extensive and varied, though most commonly used for wairakau infusions (teas), or infused in oil and mixed with beeswax to make healing balms for the skin.
Growing kawakawa (Macropiper excelsum) from cuttings is fairly simple to do, and allows you to propagate more plants from an established plant in your garden.
Tips before you start:
- Kawakawa is a special plant to many Māori. Though it is commonly known for it’s medicinal use, it also links to a time when tupunā would use this to heal whānau.
- The Tohunga Suppression Act 1907 was a New Zealand law that made the practices of traditional Māori spiritual leaders and healers (tohunga) illegal. It effectively criminalized traditional Māori medicine (rongoā) and spiritual healing for 55 years. This is important to know as you work with any native NZ plants, and work respectfully.
- The best time of year to take kawakawa cuttings is during the active growing season. Ideally from late spring, through summer, to early autumn.
Tikanga (protocols) are an important part of working with Kawakawa. These ensure the safety of the people and the plant, and a respect for the use of Kawakawa as both a physical and energetic medicine.
How to take cuttings from kawakawa and grow new plants:
Select your stems:
- Take a 10–15 cm healthy, semi-hardwood cutting, strip the lower leaves, and plant it directly into a pot with moist potting mix or compost. Keep the pot shaded and damp until roots form.
- Choose firm, healthy semi-hardwood stems, ensuring they are about about 10 to 15 cm long and pencil thick as a minimum width.
- Select your cuttings from an established, healthy and disease-free plant.
- Avoid taking cuttings from weak or spindly wood.
Prepare the stems:
- Using clean, sharp secateurs, cut cleanly just below a leaf node.
- Remove the lower leaves and any side shoots, and snip off or cut in half and remaining large leaves by half to limit moisture loss.
Planting:
- Dip the cut end into rooting hormone if you like (optional), then plant it directly into a pot filled with with moist potting mix or compost.
- Keep the pot shaded and damp, watering regularly especially through summer months, until roots form.
Caring for your Kawakawa cuttings:
- Water the soil thoroughly right after planting. Keep the mix consistently moist.
- Keep the pot in a warm, partially shaded spot with dappled shade or indirect light. Avoid direct, harsh sunlight, which can scorch the cutting, or dry it out.
Transplanting your Kawakawa plant:
- Allow 2 to 3 months for roots to establish. Once strong root growth and new leaves appear, you can transplant your young kawakawa into a larger container or a shaded spot in your garden.
Plant kawakawa where it thrives
- Kawakawa prefers warmer, coastal, or lowland climates.
- Young plants are sensitive to frost, though mature plants can handle light frosts. Because of this, Kawakawa does not naturally grow in alpine areas or in the deep South of New Zealand. In these places it is possible to grow kawakawa indoors on in a greenhouse.
- Kawakawa plants thrive in soil that is moist, but free draining, and love dappled light.
- They can grow into a bushy shrubs that can reach up to 3-5 metres tall.
- Avoid planting Kawakawa in direct sunlight, as this will cause the leaves to burn, or grow very small, curled leaves.
Now go and get your kawakawa babies out into the world!
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