Astelia fragrans (kakaha, bush lily)
One of the most common species of Astelia growing throughout New Zealand. It has attractive broad green flax-like leaves, stiffly arched and the ribs are often reddish. It has scented flowers in Spring. When the berries mature, they turn orange. Best in sheltered semi-shade.
Habitat: Found throughout the country on the forest floor amongst native bush.
Flowering: October - November
Fruiting: December - May [Fruit: Orange]
Astelia nervosa (mountain astelia) [Out of Stock]
A bold clump of long silver-green leaves, dramatic form for a pot or alpine garden. Leaves bronze with the cold. Small spikes of yellowish flowers are followed by orange berries. Plant so that it does not dry out. Hardy, grows in sun or shade.
Habitat: Found on mountainsides in damp grasslands, herbfields and fellfields between 700 and 1,400m.
Flowering: November to January
Fruiting: March to May [Fruit: Orange]
Clematis paniculata (puawananga) [Out of Stock]
An attractive climber with masses of white flowers in spring. Plant in a moist but well-drained soil with roots in a cool shady place and foliage in the sun. Water regularly in summer.
Habitat: Coastal to montane in shrubland or tall forest (up to 1000 m a.s.l.).
Flowering: July - November
Fruiting: October - January
Corokia cotoneaster (korokio)
Good hedging and ornamental shrub. Attractive fine silver/grey foliage with bright yellow flowers in early summer. Densely interlaced branchlets. Red berries/seed. Evergreen. Very hardy to drought and cold.
Habitat: Found in scrub and on dry river flats and rocky places throughout the country.
Flowering: September - December
Fruiting: January - May [Fruit: Red]
Fuchsia excorticata (kotukutuku, tree fuchsia) [Out of Stock]
Also known as Kotukutuku, Tree Fuchsia, and New Zealand Fuchsia. Native to New Zealand and considered to be the worlds largest fuchsia. Attractive, small flowers begin to appear in mid spring. They are greenish-yellow then turn purple-red. followed by dark purple berries that are edible and tasting similar to tamarillo. Plant in full sun or partial shade, hardy, semi-deciduous to deciduous.
Habitat: Found in lowland and montane forests, especially along forest margins and streamsides where the soil is damp.
Flowering: August to December
Fruiting: December to March [Fruit: Purple]
Fuchsia procumbens (creeping fuchsia)
A rather exotic Fuchsia, unlike most common types, unique for its creeping habit. This species grows much like a groundcover, often not exceeding more than a few inches in height. Bears pretty rainbow flowers followed by firm-fleshed, edible berries.
Habitat: A strictly coastal species. F. procumbens has been collected from cobble/gravel beaches, coastal cliff faces, coastal scrub and grassland, dune slacks and swales, and from the margins of saltmarshes (in places where it would be inundated during spring tides).
Flowering: September - May
Fruiting: November - July [Fruit: Red]
Kunzea ericoides (kanuka)
Kanuka is a fast growing tree found throughout New Zealand in forest and scrub. The leaves are softer to touch than Manuka and has smaller white flowers in Summer. It is very hardy, tolerating drought, frosts and poor soils. It is a primary colonising plant and used for revegetation as a nurse plant. Both manuka and kanuka are used as a nurse crop with other early colonizing plants for revegetation / restoration planting and are also very effective in erosion control.
Habitat: Coastal to lowland shrubland, regenerating forest and forest margins, also present in montane forest, ultramafic shrubland and very occasionally present in subalpine shrubland.
Flowering: October to February
Fruiting: November to March
Kunzea robusta (kanuka)
Widespread, common tree of North and South Islands. Bark usually basally detached long leathery strips. Branches bearing masses of green leaves and clusters of small white flowers.
Habitat: Coastal to lowland shrubland, regenerating forest and forest margins, also present in montane forest, ultramafic shrubland and very occasionally present in subalpine shrubland (up to 900 m a.s.l.).
Flowering: August to June
Fruiting: July to May
Leptospermum scoparium (manuka, tea tree)
A fast growing shrub with abundant white flowers in Summer. The flowers are attractive to bees. The leaves are very small and prickly to touch where as kanuka leaves are soft to touch. Both manuka and kanuka are used as a nurse crop with other early colonizing plants for revegetation / restoration planting and are also very effective in erosion control.
Habitat: Abundant from coastal situations to low alpine habitats.
Flowering: December to March
Fruiting: Throughout the year
Melicytus ramiflorus (mahoe)
Melicytus ramiflorus, commonly known as whiteywood or mahoe, is one of our most common trees, found in forest and shrub throughout New Zealand and growing quickly to 5m or more. The pointed oval leaves are a bright green, with fresh growth being quite soft and an even brighter green. The bark is greyish white and becomes attractively mottled with lichens. Flowers in spring followed by numerous purple black berries. Whiteywood can be clipped for hedging or used as a shelter tree or filler, and will also make quite an attractive specimen. Avoid heavy frosts when young.
Habitat: Abundant small tree of coastal, lowland, and lower montane forests throughout the country.
Flowering: November - January
Fruiting: February - April [Fruit: Black]
Muehlenbeckia astonii (shrub pohuehue)
A coastal divaricating shrub with a wiry interlacing habit. Small, bright-green heart-shaped leaves. This plant is extremely hardy, tolerating dry conditions and wind. Popular landscaping plant, providing great contrast.
Habitat: Coastal to lowland. This species is associated with “grey” scrub communities, largely confined to drier lowland parts of eastern New Zealand. It is found on moderate to high fertility soils. The plant is often found in association with Coprosma crassifolia, Coprosma propinqua, Muehlenbeckia complexa, Discaria toumatou, Olearia solandri and Ozothamnus leptophyllus.
Flowering: August - January
Fruiting: October - June
Muehlenbeckia axillaris (creeping pohuehue)
A dense ground-cover with wiry stems and small dark-green leaves. Flowers prolifically in summer with masses of small creamy flowers. Prefers full sun. Tolerant of hot, dry conditions.
Habitat: Found in subalpine rocky places, riverbeds and and grasslands.
Flowering: November - April
Fruiting: December -
Muehlenbeckia complexa (scrambling pohuehue)
It is quite vigorous and probably the best species for trimming and topiary. It is semi-deciduous growing to 4m or more up suitable supports, and produces swollen white berries with black seeds. Leaves turn bronzy before dropping in late fall/early winter. Any reasonably well drained soil will suit this agreeable groundcover, and drought, salt spray, and wind are all tolerated with good grace.
Habitat: Found along rocky coasts as well as inland in coastal and montane forests.
Flowering: October to June
Fruiting: July - September [Berries: White]
Phormium cookianum (wharariki, mountain flax)
A superb species, one of the hardiest and the most striking. Long arching green leaves all year round, and 2 metre long flower stalks over summer - particularly attractive to native birds. Use as a 'groundbreaker' in new gardens, en masse on banks. Foliage and flowers are great for floral artwork.
Habitat: Strictly confined to subalpine, alpine situations.
Flowering: October to December
Fruiting: January to March
Phormium tenax (harakeke, swamp flax)
One of the oldest plant species in New Zealand and it is unique to New Zealand. With its sword-shaped leaves it is a common feature of the New Zealand landscape. It grows up to 2 -3 metres high and its flower stalks can reach up to 4 metres. The flowers are brownish red in Summer, followed by black seed pods that stand upright from the stems. It is very hardy and fast growing with wide environmental tolerances. It will grow in dry and wet conditions, withstand strong and coastal winds and are frost hardy. It is used for hedging or shelter and in mixed native planting. It is also a pioneer plant meaning it should be one of the species planted first in a restoration planting plan as it establishes quickly when planted and shelters other plants.
Habitat: Common from lowland and coastal areas to montane forest, usually but not exclusively, in wetlands and in open ground along riversides.
Flowering: October to December
Fruiting: January to March
Pseudopanax arboreus (whauwhaupaku, fivefinger)
This is one of New Zealand's most common native trees found from Cape Reinga to Bluff in lowland forests. Its particular form of a glossy, five to seven fingered leaf along with quick and luxuriant growth. It grows into a small stout tree up to 5 metres high and grows well in most soils and situations. Fast growing with small purplish black berries in autumn.
Habitat: Coastal to montane (10-750 m a.s.l.). Moist broadleaf forest. Frequently epiphytic. A frequent component of secondary forest. Streamsides and forest margins.
Flowering: June to August
Fruiting: August to February [Fruit: Black]
Sophora microphylla (small-leaved kowhai)
A small-leaved kowhai which often goes through a tangled juvenile stage. There are many varying forms, some taking many years to flower. Suitable for planting as a shade tree.
Habitat: In the North Island, especially the northern half this is a species of mainly riparian forest. South of about Hamilton it can be found in a diverse range of habitats from coastal cliff faces and associated wetlands to inland grey scrub communities.
Flowering: August to October
Fruiting: October to May
Sophora prostrata (dwarf kowhai)
Dense, tangled wiry kowhai shrub with sparse foliage and hidden orange-yellow flowers in late spring. Semi-deciduous. Very tough on exposed, cold, dry sites.
Habitat: Found from the coast to subalpine in open rocky planes.
Flowering: September to October
Fruiting: January -
