Kōtukutuku (tree fuchsia)
Fuchsia excorticata
The world's largest fuchsia; its purple kōnini berries are sweet eaten fresh, and tūī work the flowers.
Hardiness: zones 8 to 11
Light: part shade
Size: about 25 ft tall, 15 ft wide
Harvest: December to March
From: Aotearoa New Zealand
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, pollinators, wildlife.
Native to: Aotearoa New Zealand. Hardy in zones 8 to 11.
The story
Kōtukutuku is the largest fuchsia on Earth, a small tree with peeling, papery orange bark. Its berries, called kōnini, were gathered by Māori and later baked into settlers' puddings; the blue pollen was once used as face colour.
Planting
Part shade, shelter and soil that never dries out. It suits cool, humid gardens and stream sides.
Growing
It drops its leaves in cold winters, which is unusual for a New Zealand tree. Water in drought and mulch well.
Harvest and use
Pick the berries when deep purple and soft, through summer. Eat them fresh or make jam; they are sweet and mild.
What to watch for
Dry air and hot summers are its limits. Browsing animals strip it where they can reach.
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More berries and small fruit
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home