Native plantings

WHY NATIVES?

Gardeners have an important role in the conservation of rare and endangered native plants, which in turn provides the right conditions for our endemic wildlife, your contribution of a Kowhai or Manuka will keep the local Tui, Bellbirds and Geckoes happy.

Trees are the most important plants in our environment. They enhance the landscape dominating it aesthetically and spiritually. Their colours, the glint and glow of sunlight on their shimmering foliage, the rustle of wind through the leaves or the patter of raindrops all conjure up in our minds associations of beauty, majesty, admiration and awe.

Trees give us a sense of stability and permence while at the same time provides variety and change as they grow flower and fruit from season to season, year by year. A single tree can form the focal point of a community of life for birds, animals, insects, fungi and micro-organisms that together make up the web of life.

Don't feel restricted in your use of natives, they fit in well in any garden design and are very adaptable with regard to climate, soil type and moisture levels.

They can be used in the same ways as their exotic cousins and combine well with them.

GRASSES:

A broad group of plants with many being natives. Grown for their hardiness to wind and drought.

Most are grass like with drooping ends. Generally doing well in full sun; semi shade is ok too.

Some popular ones are:

CAREX FROSTED CURLS:Pale light green leaves with curly ends. it forms a soft rounded tussock (30cm high) lovely on mass for low maintenance gardening.

CAREX TESTACEA:Fine brown foliage forming a clump. Soft foliage. A nice border plant at around 60cm high.

CAREX FLAGELLIFER: Fine tufts of brown curled foliage eventually becoming a tangled heap on the ground lovely on banks.

CAREX DISPSACEA: Grows in quite big clumps seasonal changes in foliage colour pale green in the heat and reddish brown in the cool.

THE NEW ZEALAND NATIVE PALM: A MUST HAVE FOR ANY GARDEN

NIKAU PALM

Rhopalostysis sapida:

A beautiful addition to any garden. Quite slow growing eventually growing an interesting coloured trunk with its lush green palms fronds brunched at top. Cream to mauve flower clusters appear with age.

NATIVE HEDGES:

PITTOSPORUM: Includes some 150 species. Grown primarily for foliage even though the flowers are very fragrant (but very small). Very popular as hedge and many new varieties are being developed, many varieted forms that bring exciting colour diversity to the garden. Can be clipped to any height best to be over 1.5m high.

GRISELINIA: This medium sized shrub with bright green glossy foliage withstands salt laden winds and dry conditions, frost hardy. Great as a hedge.

Griselinia littoralis-small leaves, wide habit.

Grisellinia lucida-large leaves, more erect growth.

COPROSMA: This large family of natives are prized for their tolerance of salt winds and are used for coastal hedges and shelter plantings. Most have small glossy leaves some with pretty variegations.

CLIMBING NATIVES:

Tecomanthe speciosa: A vigorous twining climber. Creamy lime flowers produced in autumn. Lovely lush dark green glossy foliage to highlight any fence or pergola. Enjoys shade in summer.

Clematis paniculata: A robust, rigid climber with lustrous leaves. From late spring to early summer it bears fragrant white flowers with yellow centres, flowers are followed by downy seed heads. Best to keep roots shaded, but foliage in sun.

Metrosideros carminea: Self clinging climber, no flowers appear in juvenile state. Later branches appear and flowers begin. Best in semi shade. Cute small Pohutukawa flowers worth waiting for.