KUMARAHOU

Kumarahou ( Pomaderris kumeraho) is one of our best allies and treasures in native medicine. It’s a powerful expectorant and very effective in treating bronchitis and asthma and for shifting stubborn coughs. It is a blood purifier, tonic and liver cleanser. In earlier times it was used by Maori healers for treating tuberculosis. The leaves were also boiled and the liquid used externally to soothe sores, wounds, rashes and skin irritations. Both the leaves and the flowers produce a lather when rubbed between the hands under water. It was used by early gum-diggers for this reason, accounting for the name gumdigger‘s soap.

Kumarahou is a shrub or small tree growing 2m-3m high. It grows on clay soil in scrubby areas of the upper North Island, including Auckland. During September/october kumerahou produces golden flowers for 2-3 weeks (another common name is golden tainui), followed by seed capsules, the seeds being ripe for harvesting between Christmas and New Year‘s.

Kumarahou is useful for growing in poor soils, but it‘s slightly temperamental in cultivation. Grow in sun or light shade. It will tolerate only light frosts.