Whau Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Whau

Scientific classification
Genus:	Entelea
Species:	arborescens

The whau tree, also known as Entelea arborescens, is a special tree found only in New Zealand. It's the only type of tree in its group, called Entelea. This small tree or shrub can grow up to 6 meters (about 20 feet) tall. It has big leaves that look a bit like lime leaves, giving it a tropical feel.

You can find whau trees growing in low forests along the coast of New Zealand's North Island and the top part of the South Island. Its fruit pods are brown and covered with sharp spines. The name whau comes from the Māori language. It's similar to a word used in other Polynesian languages for hibiscus plants, which the whau tree looks a bit like. People also call it 'New Zealand mulberry', 'corkwood', or 'evergreen lime'.

About the Whau Tree
- Flowers and Seeds
- Super Light Wood
Where Whau Trees Grow
Whau Tree Life Cycle
- How Whau Trees Spread
Growing Whau Trees
Images for kids
See also

About the Whau Tree

The whau tree is part of the Malvaceae family, which includes plants like hibiscus. Its leaves are bright green and quite large, usually 10 to 20 centimeters (4 to 8 inches) long. They have 5 to 7 main veins and long stems.

Flowers and Seeds

Whau trees produce many flowers from early spring to mid-summer. These flowers are about 2 centimeters (almost an inch) wide. They are white, smell nice, and have a bunch of yellow stamens in the middle. The brown seed pods are about 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) long and have stiff bristles that are about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) long.

Super Light Wood

The wood of the whau tree is very light. It's even lighter than cork and similar to balsa wood. The Māori people used this light wood to make floats for their fishing nets. The wood has special pale brown parts that form each year. This means the wood doesn't have clear growth rings like many other trees.

Where Whau Trees Grow

Whau trees need a lot of sunlight to grow well. They cannot live in shady areas under a thick forest roof. They also don't like cold weather, strong winds, or very dry or wet soil. Even in their natural coastal forests, you might only find them in certain spots. In lowland rainforests, whau trees are rare. They usually grow near streams in valleys close to the coast, where they can get enough warmth and light.

You can find whau trees in places like Nelson and Marlborough in the South Island. However, they are not common south of a certain latitude (38°). Whau trees have never been found more than 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the sea or higher than 350 meters (1,150 feet) above sea level. In places where whau trees really do well, the lowest temperatures are always above freezing (0 °C).

Whau Tree Life Cycle

In its natural home, the whau tree succeeds because it produces a huge number of seeds. These seeds can also stay alive for a very long time. Once they sprout, the trees grow very quickly.

How Whau Trees Spread

Whau trees are like quick helpers in the forest. They can quickly grow in areas where sunlight suddenly reaches the forest floor, for example, after a tree falls. They grow incredibly fast and start making fruit quickly. They produce a lot of seeds, especially when they are about to die. Their seeds can sprout as soon as they come out of the pods.

Sometimes, fire can help whau seeds sprout, even after they have been on the ground for many years. Once a whau seed sprouts, it grows very fast. On Taranga (Hen Island), whau was often the first new plant to appear in good conditions. Other plants like tree nettle and kawakawa followed. Larger forest trees like karaka and tawa grew more slowly.

Growing Whau Trees

If you want to grow a whau tree, it likes rich, moist soil. You can grow it outdoors in sunny or lightly shaded areas if the climate is mild. In colder places, you might need to grow it in a greenhouse. Whau trees don't like dry conditions and can only handle a little bit of frost (around 3 °C or 37 °F).

You can grow new whau trees from seeds, which you can buy. You can also grow them from cuttings. Take a piece of a hard branch about 20–30 centimeters (8–12 inches) long. Remove the leaves and small twigs. Push the cutting deep into damp, gritty soil in a black bag. Cover it with a wet sack or newspaper for about a week to keep it moist. New leaves should appear after about three weeks. It's best to wait a few months until the new growth is strong before moving the plant.