This planting scheme is for a large contemporary garden - perhaps on a split-level building platform - designed to anchor and complement the style of the home but not compete with the views that this type of large contemporary home often enjoys. There isn’t a vast variety of plants here, but this is balanced by using larger quantities of each species in organised spaces. The majority of the plants are 1m high, keeping views open so that transitioning from house to garden is seamless. Plants are chosen for their texture, form and colour variation, with the only vertical profile provided by the textural forms of the grouped Fuscosporas and dramatic architectural lines of the Cordylines, which visually anchor the garden to the landscape. Rocky outcrops and pathways through shingly soil suit mass plantings of the groundcovers - which also helpfully act as weed suppressant blankets. Think big when planning this style of garden allowing for swathes and drifts of single varieties to show them off en mass. The scale of the garden means it is not initially a maintenance-free garden, but as shrubs fill out it will become easier to maintain. However, it is best kept well maintained to stay sharp, crisp and contemporary.
Plants and plant spacing:
Fuscospora Solandri 3m
Cordyline Australis 3m
Hebe Cupressoides 1.5m
Kunzea Ericoides 2m
Phormium Dark Delight 1.5
Pseudowintera Red Leopard 1.5
Chionochloa Rubra 1.2
Chionochloa Conspicua 1m
Libertia Peregrinans 50cm
Muehlenbeckia Axillaris 50cm
Scleranthus Biflorus 50cm
Raouli Hookeri 50cm
Foliage Colour: Greens, blacks, red, orange, silver and bronze.
Flower Colours: White neutral seed heads.
Uses:This planting scheme is for a large contemporary native garden - perhaps on a split level building. Designed to anchor and compliment the style of the home but not compete with the views that this type of large contemporary home enjoys of our mountainous landscape.
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.
Kanuka (Kunzea ericoides) is a New Zealand native plant. The tree is small to medium in size, with narrow leaves and white to pink flowers. Because of its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, the essential oil extracted from its leaves has a fresh, woody and slightly sweet scent and is used in aromatherapy and skincare products. Kanuka honey is valued for its antibacterial properties and is used in medicinal and cosmetic applications. It is produced by bees that feed on the tree's flowers. Once established, it prefers a sunny location with well-drained soil and is resistant to coastal conditions, drought and frost. It can reach a height of 10m and has a narrow, upright growth habit. It can be pruned in cultivation to maintain a smaller size and shape.
Phormium Dark Delight is a striking variety of New Zealand Flax that features deep burgundy to almost black sword-shaped leaves, creating a dramatic and contemporary look.
Ideal for adding contrast and texture to garden beds, Phormium Dark Delight reaches a height and spread of approximately 1.5 metres, making it a suitable choice for both small and large spaces. Its robust and upright growth habit ensures it stands out in mixed borders, rockeries or as a standalone specimen.
This variety thrives in various conditions, from full sun to partial shade, and is adaptable to various soil types, provided they are well-drained. Phormium Dark Delight is notably hardy, tolerating coastal conditions, wind and even some drought, once established.
In addition to its ornamental value, Phormium Dark Delight is low maintenance, requiring minimal care beyond removal of old leaves to keep it looking tidy. It's an excellent choice for contemporary landscapes, coastal gardens or as a focal point in a variety of garden styles.
Pseudowintera Red Leopard - also known as horopito or pepper tree. A hardy evergreen shrub that has lime-green foliage with rich burgundy markings that provide good foliar colour to the garden. As the days start to cool in autumn the foliage darkens to burgundy, making it a really good plant for winter interest. Plant in borders and containers. Used to form low hedging it may be trimmed to shape. Requires moist, free-draining soil in full sun or part shade.
Chionochloa rubra, known as the Red Tussock, is a standout New Zealand native, combining ecological importance with garden elegance. This perennial grass, with its distinctive red-tinged tussocks, reaches up to 1.5m, offering a unique texture with its tubular, inward-rolled leaves. Beyond its beauty, it's a vital shelter for native birds, an anchor for soil, and a nourishing source for insects. It adapts to damp and infertile soils, making it a natural choice for wetland areas, and its flowering from October to December transitions to fruiting until May.
In gardens, Chionochloa rubra is a versatile gem. Its dynamic form is perfect for borders, mass planting, rock gardens, and mixed plant beds. The sun brings out its brilliant red foliage and when there's a breeze, the wispy leaves ripple in the wind. Growing to around 90cm, its seed heads linger through late summer, requiring minimal maintenance with occasional trims. Whether in full sun or partial shade, this ornamental grass promises to be a garden's highlight, best planted at spacings of 1.2 to 1.5m.
Libertia peregrinans is a remarkable native New Zealand grass with stiff, sword-like golden-green leaves that become an intense orange colour as they mature. In spring, it boasts clusters of small, white flowers that add to its visual appeal.
Libertia peregrinans is a hardy plant that can tolerate a range of conditions, including poor soil and drought, making it a versatile addition to your garden. It prefers full sun to light shade and achieves a height and spread of about 0.6m, providing a compact yet impactful presence. This low-maintenance perennial is perfect for borders, rockeries, or as a general garden filler, adding a unique, eye-catching element with its distinctive colouring and form. Plant a row in front of a dark fence for a stunning visual effect.
Muehlenbeckia axillaris, also known as Creeping Wire Vine or Mattress Vine, is a hardy and versatile evergreen plant that is native to New Zealand. This plant features wiry, interlacing stems that form a dense mat and in summer produces tiny, inconspicuous flowers that are followed by small, black berries. Muehlenbeckia axillaris typically grows to a height of around 10-15cm and has a spread of up to 1.5m, making it an excellent choice for groundcover, rock gardens, and hanging baskets. This plant is hardy and easy to grow, thriving in well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade.
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.
Raoulia hookeri. A compact groundcover with silvery foliage. Forms a tight spreading, woolly mat with yellow-green flowers. Prefers full sun, and good drainage. Perfect for a rock garden, retaining wall or that dry spot in your garden. 10cm x 50cm.
Chionochloa flavicans is a native New Zealand ornamental tussock grass with attractive, weeping blades that display a blend of green and yellow shades and fluffy plumes. With its arching, strappy leaves and dynamic movement in the breeze, it adds a unique visual appeal and texture to gardens.
Chionochloa flavicans is an adaptable, robust plant that thrives in conditions ranging from full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. Naturally found on cliffs and rock faces, it handles drought and windy coastal areas extremely well. It is a versatile plant and can be used as a groundcover when planted en masse, as a border to a garden bed or water feature or as a textured addition to mixed garden beds. It grows to 1m tall making it ideal for small or narrow gardens.
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.
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