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Muehlenbeckia astonii
Also called Shrub Pohuehue, Wiggywig Bush
Shrubby tororaro is a New Zealand shrub with a dense, wiry tangle of orange-red branches and tiny heart-shaped leaves, valued as a tough garden plant. The key to growing it is free-draining soil and a dry, sunny spot, since it is very drought tolerant and prone to root rot in wet conditions.
Muehlenbeckia astonii, commonly known as the shrubby tororaro, is an endemic New Zealand shrub in the family Polygonaceae. It is found in both the North and the South Islands and has distinctive small heart-shaped deciduous leaves amidst a tangle of wiry interlocking branches. Although common in cultivation around the world, it is extremely rare and threatened in the wild. Its conservation status is "Nationally Endangered".
M. astonii is usually deciduous, though retains some leaves when grown in northern New Zealand. It prefers dry conditions, and is very drought-tolerant – excessive moisture can lead to root rot. Its unusual form and wiry orange stems make it an interesting garden plant. It tolerates light shade, but grows well as a shelter plant in exposed situations, tolerating salt spray, wind, and frost. It can be planted as an informal hedge, and responds well to being pruned into shape. If planted in rich soil, M. astonii can grow vigorously upwards and may require staking. It can be propagated by winter hardwood cuttings, which strike best in early spring, and grows well from outcrossed seed. The translucent fruits are considered decorative, so most plants sold in nurseries are female.
At a time when only 48 M.
This species was probably once widely distributed in the drier lowland and coastal parts of eastern New Zealand, especially on terraced riverbeds, possibly as far south as the Waitaki Valley, South Canterbury. Its former range is hard to determine, as the species was only recognised by botanists decades after most of New Zealand's dry scrublands had been cleared for agriculture. Its deep root system helps it survive in dry conditions, and can grow on open rocky hillsides and stony ground, up to 300 metres (980 ft) altitude. It prefers free-draining, warm, sunny slopes, on moderately- to highly-fertile soil. M. astonii is currently only found in four areas:
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Muehlenbeckia astonii by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
