The Environment

Streamside planting guide

Rohutu, NZ myrtle (Lophomyrtus obcordata)

Rohutu forms a shrub or small tree. Bark on the trunk and older branches is mottled and smooth, with patches of grey, cream and greenish-cream.

The flowers are white with numerous showy white stamens. The flowers are often borne profusely. The fruit are 5-6 mm in diameter and they ripen to bright or dark red, sometimes black.

The leaves are quite thick and leathery, with a distinct indentation at the end (heart-shaped). The leaves are 5-10 mm long and similarly wide, green to silvery green on top with paler undersurfaces.

Rohutu, photo: K McCombs