Native Garden #3

Pittosporum Wrinkle Blue is a native shrub characterised by its attractive foliage, which is dark blue-green with a wrinkled appearance, giving the plant its unique name. An evergreen shrub that can grow up to 3m in height and width, it produces small, fragrant flowers in the spring. It is a hardy plant that can thrive in a range of soil types and can be grown in both full sun and partial shade.

Chionochloa conspicua, known as Snow Tussock, is a hardy perennial grass native to New Zealand. It features silvery-green foliage that has an open flowering spike and forms a dense, tussocky shape, perfect for adding texture and movement to gardens. Suitable for rock, native, and modern landscapes, it serves well in coastal areas for windbreaks and erosion control. Chionochloa conspicua thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant once established, making it ideal for low-maintenance and dry garden areas. Space plants 50-60 cm apart to allow for growth, reaching a mature size of up to 1.2m tall and 1m wide.

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Coprosma Lobster is a vibrant shrub with glossy leaves and stunning reddish foliage. A New Zealand native, this hardy evergreen provides year-round interest.

It is ideal for creating visual impact through its use in borders, as a striking container plant, or as part of a mixed shrubbery display. Its compact and bushy growth habit also makes it suitable for use as a low hedge or an accent plant, particularly in modern or contemporary garden designs.

It known for being drought and wind tolerant, making it perfect for garden landscaping in challenging climates. It is an easy-care plant that thrives in full sun.

Reaches a maximum 1.5m in both directions.

Scleranthus biflorus.  A bright-green, moss-like ground cover that forms a plump cushion-like shape. Position in full sun. Use as an edging, in rockeries or containers and general garden beds. Requires moist, free-draining soil.. Hardy. Evergreen. 20cm x 20cm.

Coprosma Hawera is a fast-growing, low-lying New Zealand native that creates a dense mat of small, narrow olive-green leaves. Its hardy nature allows it to thrive in various conditions, though it has a preference for dry areas. Its cascading growth habit is especially stunning over walls or down banks. When fully grown, Coprosma Hawera typically measures around 50cm in height and can spread up to 1m wide, offering excellent ground cover. A great native for supressing weeds. 

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Phormium cookianum Emerald Gem is a compact dwarf, green flax cultivar with lush green foliage. Grows to a height of 80cm and can spread to 1m. The seed pods are very attractive to birds. Effective in mass plantings.

Discover the charm of Muehlenbeckia astonii, a New Zealand native shrub known for its intricate network of wiry, interlocking branches. This fascinating plant features small, heart-shaped leaves that are bright green in colour. During the summer, the shrub is adorned with delicate white flowers, which later give way to translucent berries in the autumn, attracting a variety of birds. Muehlenbeckia astonii is a hardy plant that can withstand a range of conditions including extended dry periods, coastal environments, and moderate winds. It thrives best in full sun or partial shade and prefers well-drained soil.

Whether you're looking to add contrast and texture to a mixed planting scheme or seeking a resilient option for an informal hedge, Muehlenbeckia astonii is an excellent choice. It typically grows to a height of 2.5m and a width of 1.5m but can be easily contained with regular trimming. This versatile shrub is ideal for various garden styles, from Alpine and Architectural to Coastal and Modern. Its low maintenance requirements and medium growth rate make it a good option for both novice and experienced gardeners. Add this stunning native to your garden and enjoy its beauty and resilience year-round.

Sophora molloyii Dragons Gold is a compact and hardy NZ native evergreen shrub that stands out for its vibrant golden-yellow flowers. This unique variety blooms even earlier than its relatives, gracing gardens with its prolific flowers in winter. The fern-like, bright green foliage complements the radiant colours, making it a visual treat throughout the year. Growing to an approximate height and width of 2 metres, Dragons Gold is versatile and fits perfectly in border plantings and pots, and can even be trimmed into an attractive hedge.

Not just a treat for the eyes, this Kowhai variety is a favourite amongst native birds such as tui and kereru, who are drawn to its nectar-rich flowers. It thrives best in well-drained soil and can tolerate sunny and semi-shaded spots in the garden.

Plagianthus regius - commonly known as ribbonwood or manatu - is a graceful New Zealand tree. With dense foliage, it is very fast-growing with an upright form and super tough which makes it great for exposed sites.  As the tree matures, the small juvenile foliage is replaced with larger foliage.  Creamy-white flowers.  Plagianthus regius grows to a maximum height of 12m, making it perfect as a specimen or shelter tree.

Cordyline australis, commonly known as Ti Kouka/Cabbage Tree, is a tall tree that, once mature, is a standout for its trunk structure. Cordyline australis can be grown in coastal, swampy, drought, or sun and wind-exposed locations. In summer, it will produce large flowering spikes, which often attract native birds. Cabbage trees are effective planted in groups and are easily established. Good for shelter and riparian planting, providing bank and soil stabilisation. Grows to 10m height x 3m width. 

Chionochloa rubra, commonly known as Red Tussock grass, is a distinctive tussock grass native to New Zealand. This perennial grass forms large, dense tussocks with long, narrow, red-tinged leaves that often roll inward, giving them a tubular appearance. Red Tussock typically reaches heights of about 1 metre but can grow taller in favourable conditions. From February to April, it produces attractive seedheads, enhancing its visual appeal. Thriving in damp and infertile soils, it performs well in full sun to partial shade and is adaptable to a range of soil conditions, from moist to wet. Its medium growth rate and evergreen foliage provide year-round interest, making it a resilient and low-maintenance choice for various garden styles.

Ideal for naturalistic and contemporary gardens, Chionochloa rubra adds texture and movement, especially in windy, exposed locations. It works well in mass plantings or as a buffer plant around wetland areas, helping to reestablish wildlife habitats. This grass plays a vital ecological role by providing shelter and nesting sites for native birds, preventing erosion with its extensive root systems, and regulating water flow in alpine catchments by trapping and storing snow. Its drought tolerance and adaptability to poor soils make it particularly suited to coastal and urban gardens, where it offers both aesthetic beauty and ecological benefits.

Hebe cupressoides nana is a fragrant evergreen hebe, compact with a perfect round ball shape. Grey-green foliage with masses of tiny white flowers which bloom during summer.  This is the perfect plant for rock gardens, mixed native plantings or containers.