ECO-FRIENDLY PLANT LIST |
| NAME | DESCRIPTION | APPROX. H X W meters |
| Dodonea viscosa 'purpurea' | Small hardy tree to 7 meters. Excellent as hedged windbreak. Tolerant to coastal wind and dry conditions | 7X3 |
| Dysoxylum spectabile | Handsome tree with rounded head growing in lowland and coastal areas. White winter flowers. Prefers free-draining soil away from frosts when young. Tolerant of salt laden Winds. | 15x5 |
| Elaeocarpus hookerianus | The other native species, E. hookerianus, is a slow-growing tree and passes through several juvenile stages of growth before assuming the adult habit. It is generally considered to be of little interest from a horticultural viewpoint. During the early stages of growth it has an upright form; the round-headed canopy of foliage develops later. The long, narrow, dark green leaves of hinau are most pleasing and it is a good choice for including in a mixed planting of trees or as a solitary specimen. The pretty white flowers, which occur from November to December, bear a resemblance to lily-of-the-valley. It usually takes some years before trees reach flowering size. | 12x3 |
| Euphorbia glauca | Becoming an endangered species, grows in coastal areas. Narrow blue-grey leaves on red steins, forms bushy small shrub which will sprout up new stems through rhizomes. Must have free-draining sunny site. | 0.6x0.6 |
| Festuca coxii | Fine-leaved blue grass from the Chatham Islands. Forms small clumps 20-30cm high creating a smoky blue effect. Excellent as edging, grouped or in tubs. Takes full sun and reasonably dry soils but water well to get established. | 0.2x0.2 |
| Festuca novae-zelandiae | Hardy upright tussock with needle thin foliage. New foliage has green tinge, older ones tend to be greyish brown to blond. Will tolerate poor dry conditions. | 0.6x0.9 |
| Fuchsia excorticata | Kotukutuku is often referred to as the tree fuchsia, and this appropriate common name should be borne in mind when considering where or if to plant it in a garden. A feature of mature trees is the peeling, light brown bark, and they also have an interesting twisted shape, which should not be ruined by pruning in an attempt to maintain a compact form. Tree fuchsias will grow from three to five meters in cultivation, sometimes more, and need room to spread. The pendulous flowers, produced from early spring to early summer all along the younger branches and sometimes from the older wood as well, are red and purple with purple pollen. Rich in nectar, they attract native birds such as the tui. There are two flower forms seen in the wild - hermaphrodite and female - but it is the brighter hermaphrodite form that is offered for sale by nurseries. Berries follow the flowers, changing in colour from green through red to purple-black when ripe. F. excorticata loses all its leaves where winters are cold, but in districts with a mild climate it is only partly deciduous. It is hardy to cold and grows readily in most soil types but it should not be too dry, especially when first planted out, and should have some shelter from wind. | 5x2 |
| Fuchsia procumbens | A delicate looking groundcover with rounded bright green leaves. Yellow/red flowers in summer followed by pink/red berries. Suitable for underplanting, handing baskets or over walls. Frost tender. Prefers semi-shade and some moisture. Mat. Tolerant of salt laden winds. | 0.15x2 |
| Geniostoma ligustrifolium var. ligustrifolium | Frost tender but otherwise hardy in drier conditions and under other trees. Was known as Geniostoma rupestre. | 3x2 |
| Griselinea lucida | A wide spreading tree, very handsome with bold glossy foliage. An epiphyte in the wild, the Apapuka makes a beautiful single specimen tree in the garden. Multi-branching from the base, easily trimmed. Allow room to grow. Large leathery, glossy green leaves. Very distinctive foliage and hardy. Tolerant of salt laden winds. | 5x2.4 |
| Gunnera prorepens | Creeping groundcover with oblong leaves bronze to purplish green in colour. Bears thick bright red fruit spikes late summer. Grows in damp soil with semi-shade. Good for around water features. Mat. | 0.1x0.75 |
| Hebe carnosula | A popular, hardy Hebe for rock garden or border. White flowers with purple tinge. | 0.4x0.3 |
| Hebe diosmifolia | Low growing round compact New Zealand native shrub producing masses of pale violet flowers late winter, fading to white during mid Summer. Hardy to coastal and frost. | 1x1.2 |
| Hebe elliptica | Tough coastal shrub with dark green leaves and white to pale lavender large flowers late spring to autumn. Must have open site. Coastal species. Tolerant of Salt Laden Winds. | 1x0.75 |
| Hebe parviflora | Much branched shrub, thin pointed leaves, white flowers.Good background filler in the garden | 2x4 |
| Hebe recurva | Compact, spreading shrub with slender, narrowly lance-shaped, curved, blue-grey leaves, to 5 cm long. Small to medium-sized white flowers are borne in narrow, axillary spikes, to 6 cm long, in summer. | 0.4x1 |
| Hedycarya arborea | As the name suggests, a favourite of the native pigeon due to the orange fruits. Small tree with dark green leaves. Best in semi-shade or sheltered site and moist soil. Protect from frosts when young. Tolerant of salt laden winds. | 5x3 |
| Hoheria angustafolia | Columnar, evergreen tree with oblong, to inversely lance-shaped, toothed, glossy, dark green leaves, to 3 cm long. In mid- and late summer, bears white flowers, to 2 cm across, often singly from the leaf axils. Frost hardy. Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun or partial shade, sheltered from cold, drying winds. Riparian Plantings. | 6x3 |
| Hoheria populnea | Graceful evergreen with light green leaves and white starry flowers in late summer. Rapid grower good for screens and shelters. Upright pyramidal growth. Riparian Plantings. | 8x3 |
| Knightia excelsa | Tall upright tree with long coarsely toothed leaves. Bottlebrush-like reddish flowers attract birds and bees. Hardy. Useful for shelter and timber and handsome specimen or forest tree. | 12x4 |
| Kunzea ericoides | Fast growing tree good for revegetation or shelter. Fragrant foliage and masses of white flowers during summer. Hardy to most sites including dry. Good Shelter. Riparian planting, Suitable for Firewood. | 8x3 |
| Leptospermum 'Keatleyi' | Large single wavy-petalled flowers of soft pink borne profusely in winter and spring. Larger foliage. Open habit. | 2x1.5 |
| Leptospermum nanum 'Kea' | A dense and compact dwarf form with pink single flowers in autumn and early winter. Flowers tend to be hidden among the leaves. Olive- bronze foliage. | 0.3x0.45 |
| Lophomyrtus x ralphii 'Little Star' | Small rounded cream leaves with pink edges. Colour intensifies in cooler months. Has a spreading habit. | 0.5x0.5 |
| Lophomyrtus x ralphii 'Red Dragon | Slender small leaved shrub with reddish pink to blackish red foliage. Excellent for floral work, hedge or background shrub. Best in cooler climate or semi-shade. Avoid hot dry conditions. | 1.5x0.7 |
| Macropiper excelsum | Bushy shrub with heart-shaped bright green leaves. Spikes of orange fruits attract birds. Grows best in part shade but tolerant of some sun. Frost tender. Leaves have Maori medicinal properties. Tolerant of salt laden winds. | 3x1.5 |
| Melicope ternata | Attractive small tree with shiny foliage and rounded top. Black seeds eaten by birds. Good for border/shelter in coastal areas. Locate away from hard frosts. After 10 years 2 x 2m. | 4x3 |
| Metrosideros robusta | A slow growing densely foliaged tree which does not reach flowering age for many years. Hardy. After 10 years 1.5 x 1m. | 10x4 |
| Olearia solandri | Erect shrub with small thin dark green leaves. Pleasant scented flowers. Hardy | 4x1 |
| Pennantia corymbosa | Distinctive juvenile form with tangled stems and angular-shaped leaves. Mature tree has a slender rounded head, more oblong leaves and masses of white flowers in summer. Does best in moist rich soil. | 10x3 |
| Phormium cookianum | Usually drooping leaves up to 1.5m long and spiraled seed pods. Yellow flowers in summer. Effective for erosion control or garden planting (allow room). Tolerates frost, coastal, windy and exposed sites as well as damp soil. Tolerant of salt laden winds. | 1.5x1.5 |
| Phormium cookianum 'Emerald Gem' | Dwarf flax forming bushy clump of emerald leaves and yellow flax flowers spring/early summer. Very ornamental and excellent choice for a smaller garden or mass planting. Takes most sites. Tolerant of salt laden winds. | 1x1 |
| Phormium cookianum 'Surfer' | This dwarf New Zealand flax is subtle in its beauty, like many of our natives, but has definite character. Growing only about 50cm tall it can be used individually or en masse as a ground cover. Individual leaves have green centers with a brown stripe lengthways down both sides. The whole leaf blade has an interesting wavy twist to it, and occasional leaf tips have a zigzag end as if they ran into a bus while growing at speed. | 0.6x0.6 |
| Phormium 'Pink Panther' | Medium sized flax which forms a spreading clump. Leaves have salmon pink center and bronze green margins. Hardy to most sites. | 0.5x0.5 |
| Phormium tenax 'purpureum' | Vigorous upright grower with bronzy sword leaves. Red flowers spikes early summer followed by black seed pods. Excellent contrast plant, hardy to most sites. | 1.5x1 |
| Phormium tenax 'Tom Thumb' | Dwarf flax with narrow erect leaves bright green margined bronze-brown. | 0.5x0.5 |
| Phormium tenax 'Yellow Wave' | One of the most popular coloured flaxes, it has a drooping habit that is most pleasing in the garden. The leaves are light green with a broad central stripe of yellow. It is strong growing, and plants should be divided and replanted after a time. A lovely flax to grow alongside shrubs and small trees of upright habit. Will reach a height of 1.5 meters. Takes most sites except very wet or heavy frosts. | 1x1 |
| Pittosporum tenuifolium variegatum | As Kohuhu but leaves with creamy yellow margins. Tidy upright habit, fast growing. Dark branchlets, oval pointed green-grey leaves with cream margins. | 5x2 |
| Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Wrinkle Blue' | Nice bushy habit with distinctive wavy foliage. Good hedging species. Good shelter. | 2.5x2.5 |
| Prumnopitys taxifolia | Similar to Miro with shorter leaves and a more 'tangled' juvenile form. After 10 years 3 x 1.5m. | 25x4 |
| Pseudopanax laetus | Grows rapidly to a bushy multi-branched specimen. Large leathery deep green glossy leaves comprising 5-7 obovate leaflets to 30x12cm margins narrowly serrated with thin purple line. Found only in North Island - Coromandel to Taranaki. | 5x3 |
| Sophora 'Dragons Gold' | Ornamental dwarf kowhai excellent for small areas and tubs. Good show of early spring flowers. Watch for caterpillars spring/summer - spray with pyrethrum or other insecticide. Takes dry. | 1.5x1.5 |
| Sophora microphylla | Tree with spreading, drooping branches, distinct yellow keeled flowers. Has a juvenile twisted form, before the adult form. Small leaved. | 7x4 |
| Streblus banksii | This very tidy evergreen native plant is not well known, but it should be. It has no juvenile stage so has its mid-green ovate leaves from the start It is very wind tolerant with its coastal natural habitat, and could well be used to help provide shelter in exposed gardens. | 6x4 |
| Uncinia rubra | This is an evergreen perennial with loosely tufted or short rhizomes. Produces rigid, erect, 3-angled stems that bear flat or inrolled, sharply pointed, shiny, greenish-red to rich reddish-brown leaves. Dark brown to black flowers are produced in narrow spikes. In general, Uncinia is an evergreen perennial that thrives in moist to swampy soil. Grown primarily for their colorful, grass-like leaves, the plant also produces spiked flowers from mid to late summer. Best used in mass plantings as a ground cover, in a border or a rock garden. When needed, divide in late spring. | 0.3x0.3 |
| Uncinia uncinata 'rubra' | A gorgeous, deepest red-bronzy, clumping grass - well, actually, a sedge, native to New Zealand. Growing to about 15" tall & wide, it is very easy to grow & looks great all of the time. Excellent for adding rich, contrasting color & texture to the front of a bed. Fab & fun in a pot. Uncinias like a cool, moist habitat. Here along the California coast, we can grow it in full sun to shade. Bright shade to shade inland. It doesn’t like to dry out. | 0.25x0.4 |
| Vitex lucens | An absolutely worthwhile specimen if you have the room and a frost-free site. Large spreading form with dark glossy green leaves. Pink flowers followed by red berries loved by birds. Excellent on coastal sites as shade or specimen tree. Frost tender when young. Evergreen. After 10 years 5 x 3m. | 5x3 |
| Yucca flaccida 'Ivory Tower' | With soft non-threatening leaves and large white flower heads, this Yucca will be popular for its distinctive spiky dark green leaves and superb flower display. Forms dramatic clumps with age. Use to create contrasting textures as a garden accent or container specimen. Good landscaping plant. | 0.9x0.9 |
