Common Name:

General Information

Raukaua edgerleyi is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a freely-branched, rounded canopy; the plant can grow from 3.5 - 6 metres tall[
The plant is harvested from the wild for its scented leaves.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

New Zealand - North and South Islands.

Habitat

Lowland to lower montane forests[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Raukaua edgerleyi is not very frost-tolerant, being found in New Zealand only from the warmer regions of the temperate zone to the subtropics.
Requires a moist but well-drained humus rich soil in shade or full sun[].
This species has three distinctive forms of foliage at different stages in their life-cycle. The second stage, as a sapling, is often the most interesting from a gardener's viewpoint[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The fresh, aromatic leaves are used for rubbing the body and are infused in oil or fat in order to scent it[]. The scented fat is applied to the body as a perfume[]. The leaves are used to make scented chaplets for women - the young leaves are especially used[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown when ripe in the autumn in a warm greenhouse[]. The seed can be slow to germinate. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[].
Air layering[].