A medicinal shrub rarely reaching 4m tall with fuzzy twigs bearing wrinkled blunt-tipped leaves that have very prominent veins on the brownish underside. Leaves 6cm long by 3cm wide, with brownish star-shaped hairs underneath. Flowers pale yellow, in dense round clusters.  Also known as Gum diggers soap. a name relating to kauri gum diggers having used the flower heads as soap to remove gum resin from their hands.

In traditional Māori medicine Kūmarahou was used as a blood purifier and remedy for bronchial and kidney complaints.

For sore throats, a small amount of leaves were simmered in a pot of water for approximately 30-minutes and the liquid was taken as a tea. It can be quite sour to taste but this can be lessened by adding a little honey.

The liquid can also be applied externally to treat skin itch, cuts and abrasions or the softened leaves can be used as a poultice pack to draw out infection.

NOT eco sourced for the Wellington region, this plan is from seed in Auckland. Endemic to the mid to upper North Island with some introduced plantings in frost free sunny spots in Kapiti and Lower Hutt. It is also planted in home gardens in Nelson. Given this plant is not endemic to Wellington region, please be sure you want to grow it. You will need to plant it in a sunny frost free spot and may need to protect it for a few  years in winter. Unlikely to be a fast growth rate.

Plants are currently 40 cm high.