Lobelia physaloides (Koru)

A rare find, Lobelia physaloides (Koru) has practically vanished from the mainland of New Zealand. It's a palatable herb and browsing animals have near enough eaten all of it, except for in spots in the Far North of Aotearoa. Kauri forests appear to be last bastion for the koru.

It's easily grown from fresh seed and from cuttings. We have some koru at our nursery in Matauri Bay, and we are probably part of a small collection of nurseries in New Zealand that are able to make that claim.

Whilst it's rare on the mainland, it's nice and safe from browsing animals on the Three Kings and Poor Knights islands. It can be found in abundance offshore, safe from hungry scavengers.

Lobelia physaloides likes partial shade, hence why it can be found in Kauri Forests. It has chosen to buddy up with its majestic neighbour, Agathis australis (Kauri). Kauri provide the shade that this species needs to survive in nature.

Koru can flower all year, and it's a treat to behold. The flower is a shade of blue to purple. It's leaf is very similar to the hydrangea - some sources say that koru is sometimes referred to as the New Zealand hydrangea.

If you'd like to purchase some koru to help preserve this toanga, pay us a visit at Nairis Nursery!