Pittosporum crassifolium (PLUG grown)
Karo Ht 3-9m
Broadly spreading, evergreen. Shiny leaves with dense white or pale buff tomentum on the underside. Tiny dark red scented flowers, followed by green 3cm capsules. Great coastal shelter but not for cold frosty inland districts.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Small Tree
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Erosion control
- Shelter
- Container Grown
- Hedging
Pittosporum colensoi (POT grown)
Black mapou Ht 6-9m
Broadly conical, evergreen. Leaves dark green, larger than P.tenuifolium, very dark bark. Generally grows in wet scrubland.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- NZ native
- Erosion control
- Container Grown
Phormium tenax
Harakeke or swamp flax Ht 2-3m
NZ evergreen. Broad erect green or bluish-green blades, erect tall flower heads in spring attract nectar feeding birds. Seed pods stand erect. Favours wet sites but adaptable. Used for shelter in exposed moist coastal sites.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Grass - Strap like leaves
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates wet sites
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Erosion control
- Shelter
Phormium tenax chathamica
Harakeke or Chatham Island flax Ht 1m
Broadly spreading, evergreen. From wild collected seed. Shorter growth than mainland swamp flax, Broad leaf blade bending near the top.
Adapted to severe coastal exposure.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Grass - Strap like leaves
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates wet sites
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Erosion control
- Shelter
Phormium cookianum purpureum
Harakeke or bronze flax Ht 1.5-2.5m
Broadly spreading, evergreen. Broad drooping bronze-purple blades producing a typical coastal flax form.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Grass - Strap like leaves
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates wet sites
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Erosion control
- Shelter
Phormium cookianum ssp. hookeri
Wharariki or Coastal flax Ht 1.5-2m
Broadly spreading, evergreen. Broad arching green blades, with erect stalked flower heads in spring. The flowers attract birds. The seed pods are long, open twisted & pendulous. Grows on coastal cliffs and hills. Adaptable to many sites.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Grass - Strap like leaves
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Erosion control
- Shelter
Parrotia persica
Persian ironwood Ht 6-15m
Broadly spreading, deciduous. Exfoliating bark similar to the London Plane. Small flowers with red stamens on the bare branches in winter. Leaves sometimes edged with purple that turn yellow, orange or red in autumn. Tolerates dry sites.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Small Tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates dry sites
- Tolerates shade
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive autumn colours - orange
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Erosion control
- Shelter
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Dawn redwood Ht 30-40m
China. Conical, deciduous. Long fossil history. Found growing in NW Hupeh in 1941. New seed import brings wider genetic base to NZ. Cypress-like timber is light, strong and durable. Prefers damp sites, deep rooted shade tree for streamsides.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates wet sites
- Attractive autumn colours - brown
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Timber
- Erosion control
- Forestry species
Leptospermum scoparium (PLUG grown)
Manuka Ht 3-4m
Narrowly conical when young, evergreen. White flowers in profusion from Dec. worked by bees. Tolerates exposed, wet and infertile sites. Useful nurse shrub for native revegetation projects.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Small Tree
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Tolerates wet sites
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attracts bees
- Firewood
- Erosion control
- Shelter
- Container Grown
Laurus nobilis (PLUG grown)
Bay tree or bay laurel Ht 10-15m
Mediterranean. Broadly conical, evergreen. Dark green leaves aromatic when crushed, used in cooking. Forms a dense screen, clips well as a hedge. spacing 500-700mm. Thrives in coastal areas.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Small Tree
- Evergreen
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Tolerates shade
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Erosion control
- Shelter
- Container Grown
- Hedging
- Tolerates limestone soils
Pages
