Using NZ Natives in Your Garden

Native plants are a fantastic choice for New Zealand gardens, offering beautiful textures, striking forms, and low-maintenance appeal. However, selecting the right mix is key to achieving a well-balanced, visually appealing space.

Close-Inspection vs. Distant-Visual Plants

When designing with natives, it’s important to consider how the plants will be viewed:

• Close-Inspection Plants – Smaller, well-formed, and suited for urban gardens where they will be seen up close. These plants maintain a neat appearance and work well in patios, courtyards, and along pathways.

  • Example: Hebe Wiri Mist – A compact, flowering shrub that stays tidy and brings year-round greenery.
  • Example: Pittosporum Golf Ball – A naturally rounded shrub with a dense, formal shape requiring little pruning.

• Distant-Visual Plants – Larger, dramatic plants that create impact from afar. While they suit open landscapes, they can appear scruffy in small urban spaces.

  • Example: Toi Toi (Austroderia fulvida) – A large, flowing grass with feathery plumes that look stunning in wide, open areas.
  • Example: Large Flax (Phormium tenax) – A bold, architectural plant that can become too big for small gardens but makes a statement in large spaces.

By selecting the right combination of close-inspection and distant-visual plants, you can create a cohesive and functional garden that thrives in your space.

1. Trees for Structure & Height

These native trees create a focal point and add seasonal interest in urban gardens.

• Sophora microphylla (Kōwhai) – A stunning small tree with golden-yellow flowers that attract native birds.
• Pseudopanax crassifolius (Lancewood) – A striking, narrow-growing tree with a sculptural form, perfect for contemporary designs.
   

2. Structural Plants for Form & Texture

These plants provide bold shapes and architectural interest.

• Phormium Emerald Gem – A compact, small-growing flax that stays neat and won’t dominate a space.
• Muehlenbeckia astonii – A unique, wiry shrub with intricate branching, adding texture and movement.
• Pseudowintera Red Leopard (Horopito) – A distinctive shrub with speckled red-green foliage for year-round colour.
   

3. Ornamental Grasses for Softness & Movement

These grasses add a natural, flowing feel to urban spaces.

• Carex testacea – A bronze-toned native grass that introduces movement and contrast.
• Chionochloa rubra – A red-hued tussock that adds a soft, feathery look.
   

4. Hedging & Screening for Structure & Privacy

These natives define garden spaces and provide privacy with lush greenery.

• Griselinia littoralis Ardmore Emerald – A dense, dark-green hedge that clips beautifully.
• Corokia– A hardy, silver-green shrub ideal for hedging or screening.
• Pittosporum Stephens Island– A compact, rounded shrub that stays tidy without much maintenance.
   

5. Ground Covers for a Layered Look

These plants suppress weeds, fill gaps, and add texture.

• Muehlenbeckia axillaris – A low-maintenance, creeping native that weaves through garden beds.
• Pimelea prostrata – A hardy, low-growing native with small grey-green leaves and delicate white flowers.
• Libertia peregrinans – A striking ground cover with warm orange foliage.
   

6. Native flowers

Great for adding interest, colour and seasonality. 

• Clematis paniculata – A native clematis with masses of fragrant white flowers in spring.
• Myosotidium hortensia (Chatham Island Forget-me-not) - a stunning perennial with large, glossy, emerald-green leaves and produces clusters of deep blue flowers.

Designing with Natives in Urban Gardens

To achieve a stylish and functional native garden:

•  Choose close-inspection plants for urban spaces – They maintain good form and won’t overgrow their space.
•  Mix textures and heights – Strappy flaxes contrast beautifully with soft grasses and architectural trees.
•  Plan for year-round interest – Combine evergreens, seasonal flowering natives, and textural plants for balance.
•  Think about space and scale – Larger, scruffy plants are best suited to open landscapes rather than compact urban gardens.
   

If you want a lush, structured, and low-maintenance garden, incorporating NZ natives is a great way to embrace our unique flora while creating a stunning outdoor space.