Astelia nervosa (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Late autumn to early winter
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 1.2m
Eventual Spread: 1.2m
Hardiness: 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11
Family: Asteliaceae
Astelia nervosa is is an evergreen, clump forming herbaceous perennial with a tufted, arching habit. Its leaves are linear to lanceolate with a simple margin, leathery, bright green to silvery gray and up to 1.8m long. Its dioecious flowers are light brown to red. Its fruit mature to a bright orange or red.
Astelia nervosa Fruit (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Astelia nervosa, commonly known as Mountain Astelia, Bush flax or Kakaha, is native to New Zealand. In its native habitat it grows in grassland and forests. Astelia nervosa is synonymous with Astelia montana.
The etymological root of the binomial name Astelia is derived from the Greek a meaning ‘without’ and stele meaning ‘shaft’ or ‘trunk’. Nervosa is from the Latin meaning ‘with conspicious veins’, ‘vigorous’ or ‘sinewy’
The landscape architect may find Astelia nervosa useful as part of an understory planting scheme or as part of a mixed herbaceous scheme.
Astelia nervosa Leaf (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Astelia nervosa is of little value in the UK.
Astelia nervosa prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will not tolerate dry soils.
Astelia nervosa requires little maintenance.