Aja Pendergrast, Auckland Zoo
Welcome back to our monthly horticulture blog! This month we’re shedding some light on another striking New Zealand native plant, Xeronema callistemon or Poor Knights lily.
You may be familiar with the stunning bottle-brush shaped flowers of this lily that burst in brilliant red from spring until Christmas, as well as the stiff green flax-like foliage that surrounds them.
This particular lily is not naturally found on Aotearoa, but was first brought to the mainland in 1924 when botanist WRB Oliver returned from the Dominion Museum expedition with a sample from the Poor Knights Islands. The Poor Knights lily is endemic to these islands which are located 50 kilometres north-east of Whangarei, and while this lily can also be seen on Taranga island (Hen Island), it is not thought to have originated there. You may be surprised to learn there is only one other known Xeronema species in the world – located in the mountainous regions of New Caledonia!
When European settlers first arrived to Poor Knights Island (whose two main islands are known to Maori as Tawhiti Rahi and Aorangi) it is believed they gave the island group this name, because of its resemblance to Poor Knight’s pudding (a type of French toast!).
Known to Maori as raupō tauranga, traditionally plants that were designated as raupō were used much like flax – to lash together the rooves of houses, make the sails of boats, and for weaving.
Auckland ZooWithin the Poor Knight’s Islands, native geckos play a large role in pollinating flora, as well as providing kai for nectar-loving birds like tui and butterflies.
Ecologically spectacular, this smattering of islands are what remains of the ring of a large and ancient volcano, which erupted close to 10 million years ago! Scientists estimate that this volcano was originally 1,000 metres high and over 15 kilometres wide. Since then, its unique geological heritage has allowed for a wealth of unique plant and animal life to spring forth, that are seen nowhere else on earth!
Due to the islands separation from mainland New Zealand, native wildlife have been able to thrive here, like tuatara, the mighty wētāpunga, giant centipede and snails. Within the Poor Knight’s Islands, native geckos play a large role in pollinating flora, as well as providing kai for nectar-loving birds like tui and butterflies.
When fresh seeds fall on to neighbouring trees, Poor Knights Lily can grow as an epiphyte (a plant that grows on another – but isn’t parasitic). It’s in the forks of these branches that the islands’ kākāriki will hollow out a nest in the base of the lily, for their tamariki.
A great plant for the home garden, Poor Knights lily can be planted in containers or straight into the ground. As they’re used to growing on cliffs and rocky out crops, they grow best in a free draining soil mix with plenty of wood chips.
We’d suggest planting them in an area that gets plenty of sun, keep them away from the frost and they’ll reward you with lots of green foliage all year round. While this lily germinates and grows easily, it may take 10-15 years to grow these stunning red flowers – but it is well worth the wait!
Stay tuned for the next blog in this series and if you have any recommendations on plants we should cover or questions for our horticulture experts, flick us an email!
