Common Name: Kanuka

Scientific Name: Kunzea ericoides

Height at Maturity:   7 – 10m

Time to Maturity: 10 year +

Growth Rate: Medium

Habitat: Dry and moist exposure areas in coastal to lowland shrub, although can get upto 1000m

Domesticated Uses: Bees/honey, shelter screen, firewood and essential oils (mainly p-cymene and a-pinene)

Forest uses: Regenerating forest, forest margins, and riparian areas. The anti microbial properties of the nectar that go into Honey for Manuka and Kanuka are also present in the roots. This means these particular species are very well suited to plant out water ways adjoining livestock farms.

Flowering: October to February 

Fruiting: November to March

Birds Life: The bees love it. Research underway on the medicinal benefits in Honey.

Planting Instructions: Plant from 1.5m to 2.5 meters apart.

Waterway management: Due to the antimicrobial properties in the roots (similar to those that end up in the honey), Manuka and Kanuka roots extracts E Coli and other pathogens after 5 and 8 days respectively. This is compared to Rye grass (pasture) taking 93 days. Also provides significant reductions in Nitrogen runoff. Read more here

Read more on the difference between Manuka and Kanuka