Acaena novae-zelandiae (red bidibid)
Acaena novae zelandiae is a fast growing mat forming perennial often used as groundcover or in rockeries. The grey-green to deep green pinnate leaves are made up of many small leaflets with toothed margins, these form a low dense mat with a soft dense appearance.
Habitat: Found in lowland and subalpine grasslands and open spaces.
Flowering: September - February
Fruiting: November -
Aristotelia serrata (makomako, wineberry)
Fast-growing, small deciduous tree. Attractive rose-coloured flowers in spring. Black berries in summer are highly sought after by native birds. Good shade tree in sheltered areas. Frost-tender when young, however hardy once mature.
Habitat: Lowland to montane forests. Often forming dense thickets following disturbance.
Flowering: September to December
Fruiting: January to March [Fruit: Black]
Brachyglottis monroi (monros groundsel)
Neat compact low spreading shrub with leaves a green to brownish-green above and whitish below. The margins of the leaves are distinctly crinkled. Superb plant in any landscape. Clusters of bright yellow flowers in summer. Hardy will grow in sun or shade, and tolerant of dry conditions.
Habitat: Found in subalpine scrub among the Kaikoura Ranges.
Flowering: December - March
Fruiting:
Carex virgata (pukio, swamp sedge)
A vigorous sedge suitable for swamps, drain margins, seepages and wet pastures. A successful colonising plant, used for wetland planting and revegetation. Suitable for conditions which may vary periodically from very wet to very dry. More dry tolerant and shorter than C. secta.
Habitat:: Widespread from sea level to about 1000 m a.s.l. in open, swampy conditions and also in damp sites within lowland forest. In parts of the country this sedge is often the dominant carice of lowland alluvial forest.
Carmichaelia australis (makaka, native broom)
An erect bush with tiny inconspicuous leaves and mauve flowers in spring. Stems are flattened. Attractive to bees. Evergreen. Prefers full sun and tolerates dry, windy and cold sites. Hardy.
Habitat: Coastal to montane, on river terraces, stream banks, colluvium, rock outcrops, talus and fan toe slopes, among tussock grassland and grey scrub, on the edge and margins of dense bush, forest, and in swamps.
Flowering: October - February
Fruiting: November - May [Berries: Red]
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
Coprosma acerosa (sand coprosma)
Coprosma acerosa is a groundcover that is found naturally near the coast throughout New Zealand. The small needle-like deep green leaves clothe the intertangling branches that form springy mounds with a spread of up to 1m. When plants of both sexes are present, attractive smoky blue berries follow the tiny flowers. This is an excellent plant for coastal areas and hot dry conditions.
Habitat: Coastal sand dunes.
Flowering: August to September
Fruiting: February to May [Berries: White]
Coprosma areolata (thin-leaved coprosma) [Out of Stock]
Coprosma areolata grows as a shrub or small tree to 5m, usually erect in habit. The pale green leaves are small and thin, hence the common name "Thin-leaved coprosma". It produces blue or black berries which the birds can eat. Grows in wet, lowland forest and can also grow in exposed places.
Habitat: Lowland to lower montane forest.
Flowering: September - October
Fruiting: January - March [Berries: Blue]
Coprosma brunnea
A hardy, wiry shrubby groundcover that is very tough and suitable for harsh conditions. Dense and bushy, attractive chocolate brown coloured foliage, grows tight and covers well. Ideal for trimming. Ideal mass planted on banks and swales, or sprawling down steep hill faces. Bright blue berries in autumn. Hardier the C. acerosa.
Habitat: Plains to subalpine.
Flowering: September to December
Fruiting: February to Jun [Berries: Blue]
Coprosma crassifolia (mikimiki, thick-leaved coprosma)
Stiffly-branched upright shrub with small dark-green leaves. White to pale-yellow berries attract skinks and birds. Tough shelter and revegetation for drought-prone sites. Upright, columnar habit is good for narrow spaces.
Habitat: Found in scrub, tussocklands, river terraces, rocky places and forests - from sea-level to 400m.
Flowering:
Fruiting: March to April [Berries: Yellow]
Coprosma propinqua (mikimiki)
A small, tough, bushy tree with interlaced foliage. Laden with fruit that changes from white to dark blue, makes good pigeon food. Good low shelter. Hardy and tolerates damp. Evergreen.
Habitat: Found in lowland forest, along forest margins and streambanks, in scrub, gravelly places and along the edges of bogs and swamps.
Flowering: October to November
Fruiting: March to May [Berries: Dark Blue]
Coprosma rhamnoides (red-fruited coprosma) [Out of Stock]
Common small bushy shrub with very wide-angled branches bearing clusters of small paired leaves, one of the pairs usually smaller narrow and brown the other obviously wider at the midpoint of the leaf and with a pale blotch at the base of the leaf. Twigs fuzzy. Fruit small, dark red.
Habitat: Lowland and subalpine scrub and forests.
Flowering: October
Fruiting: November to March [Berries: Dark Red]
Coprosma robusta (karamu)
Fast-growing shelter, hedging and nurse plant. Competes well with gorse. Laden with bright-orange fruit/seeds January-July, which attracts birds. Shade tolerant. Evergreen. Suits low-frost sites. Evergreen.
Habitat: Common throughout coastal, lowland and lower montane habitats within shrublands and open sites within forest.
Flowering: August to September
Fruiting: January to July [Berries: Orange]
Coprosma rotundifolia (round-leaved coprosma)
An attractive upright shrub with soft, thin, quite rounded pale-green leaves and interlaced branches. The flowers and orange-red berries are in small clusters.
Habitat: Lowland to montane. Usually in riparian forest and shrubland, especially on alluvial soils or those derived from calcareous parent materials.
Flowering: September - November
Fruiting: September - August [Berries: Orange]
Coprosma rugosa (needle-leaved mountain coprosma)
Hardy native evergreen. A divaricating shrub selected for its texture and structure. Excellent for mass planting, hedged or low maintenance, structure plantings.
Habitat: Found in lowland, montane and subalpine grasslands, scrublands and forest margins.
Flowering: October - November
Fruiting: February - April
Coprosma virescens (mikimiki)
Upright shrub or small tree with attractive thin, pale-green leaves. Bark is mottled grey, pale-yellow and cream. The fruit are white or green-tinged, sometimes mottled with black.
Habitat: Lowland to lower montane. On well drained to poorly draining fertile soils (often overlying calcareous or base-rich igneous rocks). In forest and shrubland.
Flowering: September - November
Fruiting: May - July [Berries: White]
Cordyline australis (ti kouka, cabbage tree)
One of the most identifiable New Zealand native plants in the landcape. It has a tall straight trunk or trunks and a dense round head, with a sphere of long narrow leaves. Cabbage tree produces a profusion of attractive and scented flowers in spring. It is an abundant seeder. It looks most natural in the ornamental garden if planted in groups. Three or more plants can be planted together in the same hole to produce this effect. It grows in all soils and situations, even in swampy ground, where little else of interest will grow.
Habitat: Widespread and common from coastal to montane forest. Most commonly encountered on alluvial terraces within riparian forest.
Flowering: October to December
Fruiting: January to April [Fruit: White]
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]
Dacrycarpus dacrydioides (kahikatea, white pine)
The tallest growing native tree, featuring handsome mature foliage and attractive buttressed roots. Best planted in moist to wet situations. The main tree species in Riccarton Bush. Edible fruit/seed from February to April is attractive to birds. Evergreen. Intolerant of heavy frosts.
Habitat: Lowland forest, formerly dominant on frequently flooded, and/or poorly drained alluvial soils. Occasionally extends into lower montane forest. Once the dominant tree of a distinct swamp forest type all but extinct in the North Island - the best examples remain on the West Coast of the South Island.
Flowering: October - January
Fruiting: February - April [Fruit: Red]
Discaria toumatou (matagouri) [Out of Stock]
A divaricating shrub that grows to small tree size in the wild. Flowers are white and inconspicuous, but sweetly fragrant. Nitrogen-fixer. Common in dry shrublands of the eastern South Island.
Habitat: Found in dry riverbeds, open rocky places and sand dunes from coastal to subalpine.
Flowering: October - January
Fruiting: December - March [Fruit: Orange]
Festuca novae-zelandiae (hard tussock)
A fine-leaved tawny tussock, upright in habit. A common component of low tussock grasslands on dry, windy and cold plains in Canterbury & Otago. Tolerates poor soil and dry conditions.
Habitat:
Flowering:
Fruiting:
Haloragis erecta (toatoa, fire weed)
Toatoa, Haloragis erecta, (not to be confused with other NZ plant species also known as toatoa) is a small perennial shrubby plant endemic to NZ, growing from sea level to about 500m altitude, distinctive for its toothed leaves and reddish stems. Toatoa readily colonises cleared or burnt ground, giving rise to another common name, fire weed.
Habitat: Coastal to montane in forest or scrub. Often on slip scars or colonising recently cleared ground. Often appearing following fire (hence one of the common names).
Flowering: Throughout the year
Fruiting: Throughout the year
Hoheria angustifolia (houhere, narrow-leaved lacebark)
Narrow-Leaved Lacebark. A slender tree reaching 6m. White flowers in summer and fruits in autumn.
Habitat: A common mostly lowland forest species frequenting alluvial forest where it may at times be dominant. Hoheria angustifolia is often an important host for taapia (Tupeia antarctica).
Flowering: December to February
Fruiting: February to April [Fruit: Yellow-winged]
Kunzea ericoides (kanuka)
Kanuka is a fast growing tree found throughout the north of the South Island. 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
Kunzea serotina (kanuka) [Out of Stock]
The Kunzea serotina and other Kunzea species are not grazed by any livestock or browsing animal. This makes them good to plant in areas where livestock is currently grazed but more regeneration needs to occur for a proper revegetation programme. As the Kanuka become established, they provide a canopy for more tender or slow-growing species.
Habitat: Endemic to New Zealand, Kunzea serotina is found on the lower portions of the Canterbury plains, whereas K. robusta is on the hills such as the Port Hills and Foothill regions.
Flowering: November to May
Fruiting:
Leptinella dioica (shore cotula)
A vigorous creeping NZ native groundcover with fine ferny green coloured foliage - larger leaf than platts black. Wonderful as an underplanting, in containers or growing among rocks in the garden. Full sun needed to maintain foliage colour.
Habitat: Coastal and inland up to 1000 m a.s.l.. In the northern part of its range usually on the margins of saltmarshes but further south extending well inland in seepages and permanently open, damp turfs.
Flowering: August - January
Fruiting: October - June
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 alpinus (porcupine shrub)
Unusual dense, flattened, sprawling and very hardy shrub really does resemble a porcupine. Its' short stiff interlaced leafless branchlets even have spikey tips. Found in the wild on very light sand or rocky soils, or on rock outcrops in full sun though it grows on any well-drained soil.
Habitat: Occurs east of the Southern Alps in exposed rocky places between 600m and 1.300m.
Flowering: November - January
Fruiting: February - April [Fruit: White]
Melicytus crassifolius (thick-leaved mahoe)
This compact hard shrub is endemic to both the North and South Island where it is typically found along coastal lowlands in open scrub areas, cliff faces, stable sand dunes as well as river flats.
Habitat: Coastal to lowland (0-300 m a.s.l.). Usually coastal in open grey scrub, on talus and alluvial terraces, cobble beaches, cliff faces, and in coarse stable sand dunes (especially swales). Inland it may be found in open grassland, amongst kanuka stands and along river flats.
Flowering: August - January
Fruiting: October - May [Fruit: White]
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]
Myrsine divaricata (mapau, weeping matipo)
Myrsine divaricata is a small evergreen, bushy shrub, with spreading, drooping branches, which can grow to 3m high. The drooping branches give rise to woody interlacing (divaricating) branchlets bearing solitary leaves or leaves in groups. Tiny flowers, with pale yellow or red petals, occur in clusters. Evergreen.
Habitat: Found in subalpine scrub and forests, preferably where the ground is moist.
Flowering: June to November
Fruiting: August to April
Olearia adenocarpa (small leaved tree daisy) [Out of Stock]
Critically endangered species. Spreading, small leaf, fragrant flower. Clip to keep compact. Withstands harsh, drought-prone places. Only found on a few sites on dry rocky old river channels near the Waimakariri and Rakaia Rivers.
Habitat: A lowland species of recently deposited alluvial gravels and sands.
Flowering: January - February
Fruiting: February - March
Olearia avicenniifolia (mountain akeake)
Autumn flowering - sweet showy, daisy like flowers. Silver / green large leaf. Very hardy bushy shrub tolerates exposure and dry sites.
Habitat: Occurs in scrub from sea-level to 900m.
Flowering: January - April
Fruiting: February - April
Olearia lineata (small leaved tree daisy)
One of the best native plants for hedging with fine grey, willowy foliage. Fast growing and hardy, forming a graceful tree on the margins of steep river gorges, and amongst rock outcrops.
Habitat: Lowland to montane (10-300 m a.s.l.) grey scrub, tussock grassland and forest margins. Often on river terraces in or near seepages and ephemeral wetlands, on occasion even growing in shallow water. Also found on the margins of steep river gorges, and in and amongst rock outcrops, boulder field and at the toe of alluvial fans.
Flowering: November - January
Fruiting: January - April
Olearia nummulariifolia
Medium-sized, much-branched, box-like shrub. Its' stiff branches give the bush an unusual appearance. The leaves are small, thick, oval and yellow-green in colour. The flowers are carried at the branch tip. Ideal hedging.
Habitat: Found in alpine and subalpine scrub.
Flowering: November - April
Fruiting:
Olearia paniculata (akiraho, golden akeake)
A rounded small tree with yellowish-green wavy leaves. Fragrant sweet-scented flowers are borne in autumn. A good shelter and hedge plant. Hardy and tolerant of coastal conditions.
Habitat: Found in scrub.
Flowering: March - April
Fruiting:
Ozothamnus leptophyllus (tauhinu, cottonwood)
Bushy shrub with small silver green leaves with fine silver hair beneath. The stems silver/white in colour. It has an attractive silver-grey appearance and from July to August it flowers in profusion with clusters of tiny cream daisy (wheel-shaped) flowers followed by down-covered seed heads.
Habitat: Found in coastal areas.
Flowering: November - January
Fruiting:
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
Pimelea prostrata (pinatoro, NZ daphne)
This NZ native groundcover is an attractive low growing plant with white flowers. It flowers prolifically over the summer months and is followed by small clear, white berries. The outstanding blue green foliage is a stand out with this groundcover. Is best grown in a free-draining soil in a full sun position. Excellent for sunny banks or rockeries.
Habitat: Coastal to montane. In open sites, such as coastal gravel, sand dunes, grasslands and mudstone cliffs.
Flowering: September - May
Fruiting: June - August [Fruit: White]
Poa cita (wiwi, silver tussock)
Densely tufted tussock of a graceful habit. Fine shiny silvery-green erect foliage with a flowing habit. Slender flowering stem, tawny colured. Best in poor dry soils in an open situation. Great for exposed windy sites.
Habitat:
Flowering:
Fruiting:
Raoulia hookeri (golden scabweed)
Small, mat-forming evergreen perennial with tiny, rosettes of silver, spoon-shaped leaves. Excellent in the rock garden.
Habitat: Dense mat forming plants found covering stone-strewn dry river and stream beds. Found in alpine dry rocky places and screes.
Flowering: December to January
Fruiting:
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 -
Veronica odora (hebe odora)
This rounded NZ native Hebe has dark green box-like foliage and racemes of white flowers in summer. Can be clipped to maintain a neat shape and makes an attractive hedge. Light prune and feed after flowering to maintain shape and promote new growth.
Habitat: It grows in montane to penalpine grassland, shrubland, bogs and flushes.
Flowering: October to March
Fruiting:
Veronica traversii (hebe traversii)
Erect bushy shrub with green branchlets. Oblong narrow dull mid green leaves, dull green underneath. The white flowers with red stamans, are long and loose making a great show in spring over a long period. It will grow in sun or semi-shade, best in well drained soil, will grow in dry sites. Hardy to cold. A very tidy plant that clips well, and stays looking great for many years.
Habitat: Grows in scrub and at forest margins, often in river valleys, in situations ranging from near-coastal to montane or subalpine.
Flowering: December to March
Fruiting:
