The Lovely Clianthus, New Zealand

Kakabeak (Clianthus puniceus) is a very beautiful native New Zealand flowering shrub and is in the same family as Kowhai (Sophora species). Terrain provides an interesting list of common names for Kakabeak: “Kaka beak tree, Parrot’s Beak, Parrot’s Bill, Lobster Claw” and Terrain also have some lovely photographs. Kaka are large native forest-dwelling parrots. I wanted to show you some of our photos of this lovely shrub.

These first photos are taken from the garden of the property we owned until January this year, where it grew by the side of the deck.

There are very few Kakabeak now in the wild due, I believe, to grazing by pests. In the photo below my pet goat Katie is demonstrating what great grazing material it is!

Here (below) is a Kakabeak flower detail that I took at the Dunedin Botanic Gardens on Sunday. Behind it is a very nice Hebe (also native to New Zealand).

You can also find Kakabeak with white flowers as photographed by SO at the Invercargill Botanic Garden (Queens Park), Southland. Magnificent example. Clianthus puniceus alba.

I have also photographed the white form at Larnach Castle Garden, Dunedin (below):

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Text and photos by Exploring Colour and SO (2017)