Variations
var. macroura
This glabrous shrub grows to 2.4 m (8 ft) tall by 2 m (6 ft) wide with many branches forming a compact habit. It has broad sessile obovate to oblong leaves with an obtuse apex and the small white tube-shape flowers are arranged in dense semi pendant racemes appearing in during summer.

It is naturally found in coastal regions from the Bay of Plenty to Waikato River in the North Island in growing in well drained moderately fertile moist loams.

var. egmontiana
This vigorous shrub grows to 1 m (3 ft) tall with many branches forming a compact rounded habit. It has a narrow lanceolate leaves up to 200 mm (7ľ in) long by 10 mm (? in)wide and produces small lilac flowers that appear profusely on long racemes during summer.

This is an ideal plant for a small garden border and is used in rockeries. It naturally grows in coastal lowlands to sub-alpine regions on Mount Tranaki in the North Island of New Zealand.