Kowhai Tree

There are two trees that for me herald Spring.

One is the Flowering Cherry - these are not native trees and there are many varieties, most of them are also grown in other countries. My header has a photo of a common one.

We have two on our section, a weeping single flowered variety and a larger tree which has a double flower. They are deciduous.




















The other tree seen here flowering profusely in September is the native Kowhai. It is semi deciduous losing most of its leaves in the winter, one of the few natives that do.

In spring, before the leaves appear it is covered in masses of beautiful deep yellow flowers. They are much loved by a nectar feeding native bird - the Tui.

There is a Maori legend associated with the Kowhai tree:

It is said that the Kowhai sprung from the shreds of the cloak of tohunga Ngatoro-I-rangi of the Te Arawa waka on its arrival to Aotearoa. The legend says that a young tohunga asks a girl to marry him while they sit under the bare branches of a Kowhai tree in the month of August. She replies that she will only marry him if he can perform some brilliant act. “I will show you what I can do. I will cause this tree to spring instantly into flower before your eyes.” He uses all his powers and the tree bursts into bloom, his final touch causing a ring of yellow blossoms to appear around the dark hair of the girl. Ever since, say Te Arawa, the Kowhai has flowered on bare and leafless branches.

Kowhai is the Maori word for the colour yellow.