Meryta sinclairii

An upright evergreen native tree with a rounded crown. Grows up to 8m.

White-green inconspicuous flowers are produced from August to April and shiny black fruits are carried year round. The leaves are elliptical thick and leathery and may be up to 50 cm long and 20 cm wide with a glossy upper surface. The petioles (leaf stalks) may be up to 35 cm long.
When young puka grow straight up but once it has flowered it tends to branch typically forming a rounded crown.

Prefers sun full to semi-shade and free humus-rich draining soil. Grows well in windy coastal conditions but protect from frosts.

Always choose healthy well-grown plants. Planting after autumn rains when the soil is moist and warm allows trees and shrubs to become established before winter. This enables them to withstand dry periods during the following summer. Incorporating organic matter into the soil before planting is also beneficial especially on poorly drained clay soils.

Before planting ensure the root ball is saturated and remove the planter bag or pot with minimal root disturbance. Trim any broken roots or branches and plant at the same level as in the container. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root plant to plant in. Select healthy nursery raised plants which have not outgrown their containers and plant into well prepared soil. Long term slow release fertilisers may be added at this stage. As soil is placed in the prepared hole tread firmly to bring soil in close contact with the root-ball. The worst fate for a tree is to be planted in a hole where the root ball is allowed to sink below the surrounding ground level. Therefore it is generally desirable to plant trees into slightly raised beds of well cultivated soil. This improves drainage and provides near surface roots with well aerated soil in which to grow. Mulching will greatly assist in preserving soil moisture during dry periods.

Staking may be necessary for some plants if they are particularly tall. Newly planted trees will require watering during dry periods. A general purpose fertiliser can be added at planting time mixed in with surrounding soil and annually in early spring as a side dressing.

Apply mulch to help conserve soil moisture. Organic materials such as sawdust and bark contribute to soil structure as they decompose. Keep mulching material away from plant stems. An annual light dressing of general purpose fertiliser in spring is beneficial. Sprinkle evenly and work into the top 2-3cm of the soil unless on very fertile soils. The first summer and autumn after planting is critical for young plants; water thoroughly during dry periods.

Most plants require some pruning to develop the desired shape and to keep them compact however pukanui rarely require pruning.

Fruits take a year to mature and as they begin to ripen to black. Birds are attracted to them.

Prone to phytophthora and verticillium wilt for which there is no treatment available. Symptoms are leaves turning yellow and dropping off and gum oozing from a wound in the tree.

Native Plant Ideas

Pukanui occurs naturally on the Three Kings Islands and the Hen and Chickens Islands where it occurs in greater abundance in the relatively sheltered valleys where soils are thick and conditions are relatively moist rather than on the exposed ridge-tops. However pukanui can also grow on cliffs with shallow stony soils which suggest some tolerance of drought. They are seen through out New Plymouth in gardens and are some of the largest specimens in New Zealand. Pukanui first came to European attention when William Colenso found a single tree growing at the head of Whangururu Bay in Northland. This tree was protected by a fence and declared sacred by Maori who told Colenso that they had brought the tree from the Poor Knights Islands. Colenso made frequent visits to Whangaruru Bay over several years in the vain hope of procuring flowers and fruit. Colenso pointed out the tree to Dr Andrew Sinclair (1794 1861) Colonial Secretary and naturalist for whom the tree would eventually be named. Colenso and Sinclair sent specimens of the foliage to Kew. Later William Mair found the tree and he eventually succeeded in procuring specimens of the leaves and fruit which were forwarded to Dr Joseph Hooker at Kew. From these specimens the original description of the tree was made under the name Botryodendrum sinclairii.