Plants:
Sophora Dragons Gold
Astelia fragrans
Phormium cookianum
Carex secta
Pittosporum Golf Ball
Coprosma Hawea (Groundcover)
Planting up a bank or slope can be a daunting task for even the most experienced gardener. Plant selection is key to minimising weed control and can quickly achieve the look you are after. Planting natives on a bank is a great way to transform what can be a forgotten spot of the garden. Try a few of the above ideas and see what works bestWhy native? Well, being incredibly hardy, natives thrive on slopes and require minimal watering to become established, and are a great source of food for our native fauna. This selection is great for a low-growing bank and will not impede on sun or create shaded areas. If you are looking for more height on your bank area, check out our other native palettes for inspiration.
Width required: At least 2m
Plant spacing:
All plants at 1.2m spacing
Foliage Colour: Green
Flower Colour: Yellow (Bush Kowai)
Uses:
Great combination of natives to quickly cover a bank area that will keep low growing and not obstruct views.
Compact bushy habit with lemon yellow flowers. Hardy. Height 1m
Arching flax like leaves. Very good for planting under large trees where it is difficult to establish other plants. Flowers are honey scented - hence the name fragrans. Height 1m
Mountain flax, Wharariki Endemic to New Zealand Phormium cookianum is a very useful plant for any native planting. Despite its common name the New Zealand Mountain flax Phormium cookianum is found throughout New Zealand on coastal slopesto above treeline, among scrub or grasses. Phormium cookianum is smaller than the New Zealand flax Phormium tenax and has more drooping leaves. Phormium tenax leaves are more stiff and erect. The seed capsules of the Phormium cookianum are droping and twisted and not erect and angled as in P.tenax. The flowers are a source of nectar for the native birds, especially the tui and the bellbird. Most of the flax cultivars are derived from Phormium cookianum.
Carex secta is a common endemic sedge of coastal to montane swampy areas throughout New Zealand from sea level to 900 m. It is found throughout the North, South, Stewart Islands and also on the main Chatham Island, though it is scarce there.
It is a tussock forming sedge up to 1.5 x 1.5 m.
A low growing coprosma that forms a dense mat of small green narrow olive-green leaves. Fast growing and very hardy but does prefer dry areas. Looks fantastic cascading over walls or down banks. 50cm x 1m If you have any questions, please don't hesitate in contacting us.
Pittosporum Golf Ball is a neat forming, rounded New Zealand shrub. This plant is ideal for adding structure and architectural interest to the planting scheme and also makes a great low hedge. Small purple flowers appear in late spring and early summer with a swee, honey-like scent. Frost hardy and likes a spot in the full sun and partial shade with a moist, well-drained soil. Gets to a height of 1m in height, but can be trimmed to retain a smaller shape.