Konini berries – ripening now

Konini berries at different stage of ripeness

There are very few native trees that are deciduous, and even fewer that have berries that are safe and delicious to eat. But one tree manages to combine the two – the kotukutuku or tree fuchsia (Fuchsia excorticata). The NZ tree fuchsia is also the largest fuchsia in the world. It has a further claim to specialness – it is able to produce hermaphroditic flowers with blue pollen. Blue pollen is most uncommon.

The flowers of the fuchsia are dark red and very small, which makes them easy to miss when the eye is more naturally drawn to the unusual peeling bark of the kotukutuku. The tree is continually shedding soft layers of bark, and in winter the new bark underneath is often a beautiful light green colour. For all its special features the kotukutuku deserves to be grown much more widely as a specimen tree in New Zealand gardens. It is especially suited to small gardens, as it takes a long time to get to its optimum height.  As well as being deciduous its open way of growing, and small soft leaves, ensure that it does not create too much shade.

 The peeling bark of the kotukutuku

At this time of year the berries of the kotukutuku (which have their own name – konini) are starting to ripen at sea level on Banks Peninsula. Berry-eating native birds (and some exotic birds) find them good eating – and so do I. They are not very big, but the ripe ones are sweet and flavoured (to my taste-buds, at least) a bit like Turkish Delight. Definitely worth a try – but do leave plenty for the birds.