Kowhai ngutukaka or kakabeak is a shrub found only in New Zealand. It is a member of the pea family and its closest relatives are in Australia. In spring it produces stunning large red flowers which hang in clusters of 15-20 blooms.

It has bright green seedpods which turn brown and split open when dry. These pods contain large numbers of tightly packed small black seeds.

Plants can grow up to 2-3m tall, producing long, trailing stems that form new plants when they come into contact with soil. In this way, one parent plant can cover a large area.