Rewarewa Plant Care

Rewarewa (Knightia excelsa) belongs to the Proteaceae family within the Knightia genus. Rewarewa is native to the North Island and at the tip of the South Island in the Marlborough Sounds and the type species for the genus Knightia. Rewarewa is also known as New Zealand Honeysuckle.

Rewarewa displays a small tree, shrub growth habit, reaching up to 10 ft tall with a spread of approximately 8 ft. Rewarewa produces showy clusters of small, colorful flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Rewarewa every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Rewarewa thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Knightia excelsa tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. Rewarewa prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining, acidic soil with high organic matter content. Good drainage is essential for Rewarewa to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Rewarewa every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining, acidic soil with high organic matter content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Rewarewa is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Rewarewa can spread to about 8 ft (2.4 m) and reach about 10 ft (3 m) tall. Space plants about 8 ft (2.4 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Rewarewa while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Rewarewa is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Rewarewa can be propagated through seeds, cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to knightia deplanchei plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Rewarewa is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, caterpillars. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Rewarewa grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Rewarewa is native to the North Island and at the tip of the South Island in the Marlborough Sounds and the type species for the genus Knightia. In cooler regions, grow Rewarewa as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.