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Araliaceae
Puka
Meryta sinclairii
Rarity and protection.
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Genus
- Meryta
- Native to
- New Zealand
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Type
- tree
- Height
- 15-25 ft
- Sunlight
- partial shade to full sun
- Soil
- well-drained, fertile
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 9-11
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Puka is naturally found only on a few small islands off the northeast coast of New Zealand's North Island.
- Its enormous glossy leaves can grow up to 20 inches long, giving it a bold tropical appearance.
- The species is classified as nationally vulnerable in the wild, with only small scattered populations remaining.
- It was named after Andrew Sinclair, the colonial secretary of New Zealand who collected the first specimens in 1841.
- Puka produces dense clusters of small greenish flowers that develop into glossy black berries loved by birds.
Color meanings
0
uniqueness
1
shelter
2
island heritage