Astelia banksii is an evergreen silver-green plant from the beaches of New Zealand. Its common names are coastal astelia, or, in Māori, kowharawhara, a name used for streams in Wellington and on Kapiti Island, though generally the southern limit of the plant is Kawhia and Tauranga. It has white to pale green flowers in spring, purple-black berries in autumn (spread by birds) and grows best in full sun to partial shade and in fertile and well-drained soil.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it poisonous?
We have no record of Coastal Astelia being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Astelia solandri
- Astelia menziesiana
- Astelia trinervia
- Astelia argyrocoma
- Astelia hemichrysa
- Astelia chathamica
Classification
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Phylum
- Tracheophyta
- Class
- Liliopsida
- Order
- Asparagales
- Family
- Asteliaceae
- Genus
- Astelia
- Species
- Astelia banksii
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