{"product_id":"horopito","title":"Horopito","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHoropito (Pseudowintera colorata) is one of those natives you grow for its looks first and its history second. The leaves are splashed with red blotches over green, giving the plant an almost painted appearance, and crushing one releases a distinctive peppery scent that hints at why this is such a well-known rongoā (traditional medicine) plant. It's a good specimen for a shaded corner or as an understorey planting beneath taller trees, where its colour stands out against darker foliage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis isn't a plant for a hot, dry spot. Horopito wants cool, moist, semi-shaded conditions, more like the forest floor it comes from than an open border. Given the right position, it settles in as a handsome, long-lived understorey shrub that adds real character to a native planting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWorth knowing before you start: horopito has a reputation as one of the trickier New Zealand natives to grow from seed. Germination is slow and can be erratic, and patience really is the key ingredient. It's a satisfying plant to succeed with precisely because it asks a bit more of the grower than most.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSowing and Growing Horopito\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFresh seed is essential with horopito, as viability drops away sharply within weeks of harvest. Stratify the seed before sowing, and keep soil conditions cool throughout, ideally between 12 and 16°C, since warmth works against germination rather than helping it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSow between September and November, or again between March and May. Germination is slow, typically taking 60 to 120 days, so don't be discouraged if nothing seems to be happening in the early weeks. Plants reach 1 to 2.5 metres in height and generally take 5 to 7 years from transplanting to become well established.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eGermination Capacity: Seed has been sustainably foraged and has not undergone commercial seed cleaning or grading. Natives can be erratic germinators and \u003cspan style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ;\" lang=\"EN-NZ\"\u003enaturally low in germination capacity. Check expected germination rate under Product Information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eStratification prior to sowing will promote germination by breaking seed dormancy. Cold stratify for 4-6 weeks in a damp paper towel in the fridge before sowing. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kings Seeds NZ","offers":[{"title":"40 seeds","offer_id":49194568810804,"sku":"L4058.pkt","price":6.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100 seeds","offer_id":49194568843572,"sku":"L4058.100sdsW","price":11.95,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250 seeds","offer_id":49194568876340,"sku":"L4058.250sdsW","price":26.8,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500 seeds","offer_id":49194568909108,"sku":"L4058.500sdsW","price":45.55,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1000 seeds","offer_id":49194568941876,"sku":"L4058.1000sdsW","price":72.95,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0729\/0555\/6276\/files\/L4058-W.png?v=1784459189","url":"https:\/\/www.kingsseeds.co.nz\/products\/horopito","provider":"Kings Seeds NZ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}