making Kowhai happy in US

19 years ago

New Zealand Gardeners,

I have had a Kowhai (Sephora microphylla) 'Sun King' in a pot for a year. I want to try to plant it out at our new home. The tag says it can take low temperatures of -12C, is that true? Our low temperatures rarely get that low, but once or twice a winter we get about -20C. I would be happy to give it a little additional protection at that time. Anyway we have mild, wet winters and humid summers, and our soil is heavy red clay. Will this plant be happier in the ground, some plants really hate living in pots. I know full sun will be best, so I am putting this shrub against a south facing wall. How would you suggest I prepare the soil? Will this plant tolerate humidity? Does it like acid or alkaline soil? Please help me give it a good home.

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Comments (4)

con0r
19 years ago
Our kowhai are planted into clay and they do very well, they are about 20years old now and have tonns of flowers.
They are pretty hardy and not too fussy about soil types as far as i know!
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vetivert8
19 years ago
Most of our soils are mildly acidic and kowhai seems to do better on a free-draining soil - even if there is a good clay content to it. A leaf-litter mulch would be appreciated, and staking if the trunk is still slender.

We have a windy environment in NZ. Good air movement around your tree will help it to develop a good rooting system, and keep the moulds at bay.

Here we have a caterpillar which defoliates kowhai (they do recover) and this is about the worst that happens.

At least once a year kowhai drop leaves - usually in late winter before the flowers appear. A shower of little yellow leaves. Pause for a few weeks. New leaves. If you have a dry winter this could happen earlier. It may also happen when you transplant, but shouldn't cause any harm.

I wonder if it will keep kiwi time or adapt to northern time for flowering? August on to December is usually kowhai flowering season here...
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marion_c
19 years ago
I would be very surprised if a Kowhai could survive -20C or even -12, given that in NZ temperatures rarely get that low. But they are sold in Europe - maybe try a UK site for some experience there.
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GardenKiwi
19 years ago
I saw plenty of kowhai down in Waimate and further south in Kingston on Lake Wakatipu. Gets pretty cold down south in the winter.

Depends how far south you are in Ga and how protected the location is that you plan to plant into. Perhaps you could leave it as a container plant, move it to a protected south side location for the winter, and sink the pot into the ground. I know that against the south side of my house up here in zone 5 it is a lot warmer and I can grow plants there that just won't survive out in the open. I would give it plenty of mulch for the winter to protect the roots. Kowhai is so lovely that I would give it a try.

Ever think of making it into a Bonzai Kowhai? I wonder if that could be done and then you could keep it in a container and bring it in during the winter months. Check over at the Bonzai forum - I presume there is such a thing on GardenWeb. Good luck!
Cheers - Kiwi in Kalamazoo
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making Kowhai happy in US

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con0r

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