Health properties
Kohekohe (Didymocheton Spectabilis) has benefits including:
Traditional topical uses: bark and leaves used externally for soothing skin irritations, minor wounds, and inflammation.
Anti-inflammatory/analgesic: applied as poultices to relieve aches and rheumatic pain.
Respiratory support: infusions of leaves used for coughs and colds in some traditions.
Nutritional/ecological: seeds and fruits are not commonly eaten; primary value is medicinal and timber/ecosystem.
Traditional use
Rongoā Māori: used by Māori as a medicinal tree (kohekohe), with leaves and bark prepared as poultices, washes, or infusions for cuts, bruises, sprains, skin complaints, and chest ailments.
Practical uses: bark and leaves were sometimes heated and applied to painful joints or wounds; cultural harvesting followed customary protocols and respect for the tree.
Cultural significance: valued both for medicines and as a component of forest ecosystems; knowledge transmitted through whānau and tohunga rongoā.
Physical properties
Form: medium to large evergreen tree native to New Zealand forests.
Leaves: pinnate, glossy, usually with 5–9 leaflets; new growth often reddish.
Flowers: large, fragrant, creamy-white to yellow, produced in clusters in leaf axils; attractive to insects and birds.
Fruit: woody capsule containing several winged seeds; matures later in season.
Bark/wood: bark relatively smooth; wood is light and sometimes used locally.
Habitat: common in lowland and coastal forests, forest margins, and regenerating forest throughout much of New Zealand; prefers fertile, well-drained soils and sheltered sites.
Growth: fast-growing when young; part of native forest succession.
Metaphysical / Energetic properties
Grounding and heart-centered healing: associated with nurturing, restoration, and gentle support—used in practices to soothe emotional wounds and promote inner calm.
Renewal and resilience: symbolizes regeneration and forest healing; invoked to encourage recovery after trauma or illness.
Community and protection: connected to sheltering energy—used in rituals to strengthen family ties, protection of the home, and care for kin.
Plant ally for connection to native forests: employed in meditation or nature-based work to deepen relationship with local ecosystems and ancestral land energies.
