Kawakawa

KawaKawa (Macropiper excelsum)

A native coastal shrub reaching 2 - 3m tall, it is popular as a medicinal herbal remedy for stomach complaints, and chewing the leaves will reduce toothache. It is debatable whether or not this is actually a genuine NZ native as it is claimed to have been brought to NZ in the early Polynesian migrations originally as Kava, and today’s versions have adapted to the cooler NZ climate. Happiest growing in damp shady conditions under the canopy of larger trees.