akakura with orange tubular flowers for the tūī
- Size
- Height: 3–5 m
- Lifespan
- 20–40 years
- Diet
- Absorbs nutrients through an extensive root system. Fast-growing and light-demanding. Thrives in open, sunny locations with well-drained, fertile soils. Found in regenerating forest, along forest margins, and in scrublands.
- Habitat
- Lowland forests, scrublands, and regenerating bush. Prefers open, sunny locations with well-drained, fertile soils. Often found along forest margins, in clearings, and in scrublands. A pioneer species that colonises open areas.
- Range
- Found throughout the North Island in lowland forests, scrublands, and regenerating bush. Most common in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Wellington.
- Endemism
- Endemic
- Main Threats
- No significant threats as this species is common and widespread. Localised risks include habitat loss from land development, browsing by introduced mammals, and competition from invasive weeds.
- Population
- A small, open shrub or tree with spectacular, tubular, bright orange flowers in spring and summer. The only Gesneriaceae member native to New Zealand. Often called New Zealand gloxinia due to its resemblance to cultivated gloxinia. Flowers are rich in nectar and pollinated by tūī and bellbirds.
- Conservation Status
- Not Threatened
- Human Risk
- harmless
- Handling Note
- native broadleaf shrub/tree, safe to handle
- Conservation Note
- Endemic shrub; restricted to northern North Island forests.
- Assessment
- NZTCS Vascular Plants (2023)
- Te Ao Māori
- In Māori tradition, Akakura stood at the forest edge. Its bright orange flowers linked to the sun and summer warmth. People used the flowers for decoration. The plant also served in traditional medicine. Akakura connected to the atua (spirits) of the forest. Its presence marked a healthy, regenerating bush. Birds thrived there. The forest recovered from disturbance.
Orange flares in the northern scrub. Akakura burns with colour when it flowers, a small tree or shrub reaching three to five metres. Its crown is loose and spreading. The leaves are soft, green, and slightly hairy, oval with toothed margins. They sit opposite each other on the stems. They feel velvety, not tough like podocarp foliage.
The flowers are tubular and bright orange, with a yellow throat and dark spots. They appear in spring and summer. Tūī and bellbirds pollinate them, drawn by the rich nectar. The fruit is a small, dry capsule. It splits open to release tiny seeds.
Akakura grows in lowland forests, scrublands, and regenerating bush. It prefers open, sunny locations with well-drained, fertile soils. You find it along forest margins, in clearings, and in scrublands. It colonises areas after disturbance.
This is a fast-growing, light-demanding species. It acts as a pioneer in open areas and regenerating forest. It is the only member of the Gesneriaceae family native to New Zealand. Its relatives live in the tropics. The species reminds us of New Zealand's ancient connections to warmer, wetter forests of the past.
To see an Akakura in full flower is to catch a flash of orange in the green forest. The bush is not just green and brown. It holds colour and life.
The flowers were sometimes used as decoration. The plant also featured in traditional medicine. Akakura was associated with the atua (spirits) of the forest. Its presence signalled a healthy, regenerating bush where birds thrived and the forest recovered from disturbance.