Plant in full coastal sun to light shade in an area with well-drained soil and somewhat protected from wind. It is cold hardy to around 25° F and tolerant of near coastal conditions. This plant makes a nice specimen plant for a narrow and protected spot in the garden with interesting foliage.

The thick leaflets of this cultivar are likened to the toes of a Moa, the huge, extinct, and flightless bird that once roamed New Zealand. It is a selection of Pseudopanax lessonii, often called lancewood or Houmapara. Pseudopanax lessonii is found growing naturally in coastal scrub and forest throughout the North Island of New Zealand. The name for the genus comes from the combination of the Latin words 'pseudo' meaning "false" and 'panax', the early name for the ginseng plant and the specific epithet honors the French doctor, zoologist and botanist René Primevère Lesson (1794-1849) or his younger brother Pierre Adolphe Lesson (1805-1888) as both botanized and collected plants on voyages to New Zealand. This interesting plant came from Kiwi Flora and we received it from PlantHaven in 2018. 

The information about Pseudopanax lessonii 'Moas Toes' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.