Native Tree Flowers

Single 40c 'Kōtukutuku (Fuchsia excorticata)' gummed stamp.

Kōtukutuku (Fuchsia excorticata) is the largest fuchsia in the world. It stands up to 14 metres high; it is common throughout New Zealand from sea level up to 1,060 metres. The flowers are 20-30mm long and hang downwards. They are green with purple streaks, when pollinated, and turn red with age.

Single 80c 'Poroporo (Solanum laciniatum)' gummed stamp.

Poroporo (Solanum laciniatum) is a shining, soft-wooded, openly branched tree with purplish stems and leaf veins that grow to around 3 metres high. It is fairly common in scrub and lowland forest margins from near Auckland throughout the country to near Dunedin. The flowers are dark blue-purple and appear from September to April.

Single $1.00 'Kōwhai (Sophora tetraptera)' gummed stamp.

The flower of the kōwhai (Sophora tetraptera) is yellow to golden yellow, about 5cm long and is filled with nectar, a favourite food of many native birds. The kōwhai was originally found growing wild alongside streams and lowland forest margins from East Cape to the Ruahine Mountains. It is now one of New Zealand’s most common native trees.

Single $1.20 'Weeping broom (Carmichaelia stevensonii)' gummed stamp.

The weeping broom (Carmichaelia stevensonii) is a distinctive, leafless tree that is only found naturally in parts of eastern Marlborough. It differs from other brooms in that its delicate, pale lavender to lilac flowers are clustered together in large bunches. These flowers are produced in great profusion on older trees, normally every second year, from November to January.

Single $1.50 'Tētēaweka (Olearia angustifolia)' gummed stamp.

The tētēaweka (Olearia angustifolia) or tree daisy is part of the largest family of flowering plants in the world. It grows up to 6 metres high along coastal areas of Southland and Foveaux Strait and on the coastal headlands of Stewart Island. The tree’s most notable feature is a solitary large and scented flower head up to 5cm across.

Single $1.80 'Southern rātā (Metrosideros umbellata)' gummed stamp.

The southern rātā’s (Metrosideros umbellata) profusion of brilliant crimson and blood-red flowers make it one of New Zealand’s most brilliant flowering trees. It is principally a South Island tree, seen at its best in Fiordland and in the Chaslands district of Otago, though it is found in parts of the North Island.