Plant Doctor Archive

Lost its golden touch

MY golden tainui (Pomaderris kumeraho) is dropping its leaves. Some of the slender branches are now bare and it looks like it is dying. It has been growing beautifully for the past seven years in a sunny, sheltered position. I watered about twice a week during the recent drought. Does it need feeding?

UNFORTUNATELY, it's probably just a case of old age. They are one of our showiest native shrubs when in flower, but are relatively short-lived. They grow rapidly for the first few years, are quite tolerant of poor soil, put on a great show in spring, but sadly only last a few years.

However, they often self-seed, so you might find a few seedlings coming up nearby which you could leave as is, to grow on their own or, in winter, move to a better spot while they are still quite small. They grow best in full sun with plenty of exposure to wind and fresh air. Don't be tempted to fertilise them, as they naturally grow in soils of relatively low fertility.

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH.