Introduction

Poroporo is a flowering shrub native to New Zealand from the Solanum genus. Some species from this genus are cultivated for their crops i.e. tomatoes, potatoes. This particular variety – called Solanum aviculare, can also be found in Australia, where it is known as Kangaroo Apple.

The shrub can grow up to 4m tall, has long leaves and big flowers white, mauve or blue-violet. The flowers are followed by egg-shaped poisonous berries.

How to Crochet the Poroporo (Kangaroo Appple) Flower?

Crochet Yarn

• embroidery cotton colour A = violet, colour C =yellow
• crochet cotton Size #5 colour B = white; Size #10 colour B = white.

Crochet Hook

•  1mm steel hook
•  2mm steel hook.

Details of components

• large 5-petal flowers with a white centre; petals are notched at the tip
• polen clusters in the centre and a white stigma in the middle of them all.

Crochet Pattern

Crochet Petals

Start: using B Size #5 and 2mm hook, make 5ch, join with sl st, 1ch,

R1: 10sc in ring, join with sl st, 1ch. Change to colour A, finish off B.

R2: (2sc in next sc, 1 sc) x 5 = 15sts, join with sl st, 1ch

R3: (1sl st in next sc, 4ch, 1picot, 4sts-tr cluster as follows: 1 tr in same sc, 2tr in next sc, 1tr in next sc, 4ch and sl st in same sc) x 5 = 5 petals. Finish off A.

We’ll crochet some white veins running through the centre of the petals, a stigma and the polen clusters.

Centre piece: Stigma, Polen and White Veins

Start: using Size #10 colour B and 1mm hook, make 5ch, 1 small clone knot and return to first ch with 4sl st = stigma. Change to colour C, do not cut off B.

Using colour C and 1mm hook make (4ch, 1 big clone knot)x3 = 3 stamens. Keep the stigma in the centre and join with sl st. Change back to colour B and finish off colour C.

Using colour B size #10 and 1mm hook, make 10ch, join with sl st, 1ch

R1: work in ring (5ch, 4sl st, 2sc in the ring)x4, 5ch, 4sl st, 1sc in the ring, join with sl st in the first ch of row = white veins. Finish off B.

Assembly

Position the centre piece inside the petal ring such that the veins land in the middle of the petals.

Conclusion

This is it!  The Crochet Pattern for the Poroporo Flower is ready!  

All photographs and crochet patterns instructions are the copyright of Meli Bondre. All patterns are for your personal use only.

If you have stumbled upon this page and you haven't heard about the 365 Crochet Flowers Bouquet Project, then feel free to check out the crochet patterns that I've designed in the last couple of months!

Happy Crocheting!

-Camelia