12 New Zealand Native Plants You Need to Know About
For drama, toughness and versatility, you can't beat these Kiwi all-star plants
Carol Bucknell
4 October 2016
Houzz New Zealand Contributor. Journalist who lives in Auckland and specialises in writing about gardens, houses and design. Author of two books on garden design: Contemporary gardens of New Zealand and Big Ideas for Small Gardens both published by Penguin. I also design gardens and am a passionate gardener. Currently I write the garden pages for New Zealand magazine Your Home & Garden and contribute to NZ Gardener and NZ House & Garden magazines.
Houzz New Zealand Contributor. Journalist who lives in Auckland and specialises... More
New Zealand native plants can be found in gardens throughout the world and it’s not hard to see why. Many are blessed with unique forms and distinctive leaf shapes that make them stand out from the crowd, particularly cabbage trees, flaxes, Astelia and puka. Then there’s the graceful nikau, the world’s southern-most palm, prized for its beautiful trunk and stunning fronds.
Other natives such as Hebe, Coprosma and Corokia species are less dramatic but extremely versatile, hard-working and reliable shrubs with a huge number of varieties to choose from. You can’t talk about New Zealand natives without mentioning at least one of its wonderful ferns. My favourite is the Hen and Chickens fern with its delicate lacy foliage and ability to grow in dry areas under trees. And while green is the colour we usually associate with New Zealand natives, there are many that produce colourful flowers, including the scarlet flowering Poor Knights lily and the kowhai, a small tree that covers itself in brilliant yellow blooms in spring.
If you want to create instant impact in your garden, plant it entirely in natives or mix them up with exotic perennials, succulents and trees. With more and more compact varieties now available, most will work well in the smallest of gardens. If you’re not sure which natives are for you, take a look at my top 12 favourites.
Other natives such as Hebe, Coprosma and Corokia species are less dramatic but extremely versatile, hard-working and reliable shrubs with a huge number of varieties to choose from. You can’t talk about New Zealand natives without mentioning at least one of its wonderful ferns. My favourite is the Hen and Chickens fern with its delicate lacy foliage and ability to grow in dry areas under trees. And while green is the colour we usually associate with New Zealand natives, there are many that produce colourful flowers, including the scarlet flowering Poor Knights lily and the kowhai, a small tree that covers itself in brilliant yellow blooms in spring.
If you want to create instant impact in your garden, plant it entirely in natives or mix them up with exotic perennials, succulents and trees. With more and more compact varieties now available, most will work well in the smallest of gardens. If you’re not sure which natives are for you, take a look at my top 12 favourites.
1. Flaxes
(Phormium species)
Where would we all be without flax? It’s such a good-looking all rounder, whether it’s in the background or taking centre stage as a focal point.
Every month or so it seems there’s a new, beautifully coloured cultivar in the garden centre. Virtually the only care needed for flaxes is to trim off old leaves to keep plants tidy.
Cultivars range from tiny miniature types through to 1 metre-plus dark and striped varieties.
(Phormium species)
Where would we all be without flax? It’s such a good-looking all rounder, whether it’s in the background or taking centre stage as a focal point.
Every month or so it seems there’s a new, beautifully coloured cultivar in the garden centre. Virtually the only care needed for flaxes is to trim off old leaves to keep plants tidy.
Cultivars range from tiny miniature types through to 1 metre-plus dark and striped varieties.
2. Cabbage trees
(Cordyline species)
Fast-growing, versatile cordylines create vertical drama in the garden, particularly when planted in groups.
As well as the taller C. australis cultivars, think about wide-leaved C. kaspar and C. indivisa, multi-trunked C. banksii or the clumping ‘red fountain’ with its vivid red leaves. Cordylines are tolerant of reasonably wet or dry sites.
(Cordyline species)
Fast-growing, versatile cordylines create vertical drama in the garden, particularly when planted in groups.
As well as the taller C. australis cultivars, think about wide-leaved C. kaspar and C. indivisa, multi-trunked C. banksii or the clumping ‘red fountain’ with its vivid red leaves. Cordylines are tolerant of reasonably wet or dry sites.
3. Astelia
From the 1.5m weeping A. chathamica to the 50cm-high A.nervosa, there are astelias in many different shapes, sizes and leaf colours. Silver is the most popular colour but you can also find astelias with red or bronze foliage.
Apart from swamp-loving A.grandis, most are ideal for dry areas in sun or part shade but not keen on damp soils.
From the 1.5m weeping A. chathamica to the 50cm-high A.nervosa, there are astelias in many different shapes, sizes and leaf colours. Silver is the most popular colour but you can also find astelias with red or bronze foliage.
Apart from swamp-loving A.grandis, most are ideal for dry areas in sun or part shade but not keen on damp soils.
4. Corokia
The BFF of landscapers everywhere and for good reason, Corokia cotoneaster and its various cultivars look stylish but are tough, coping easily with drought, sun, wind and frost.
Their Achilles heel is wet feet so avoid damp soils. Leaf colours include chocolate, bronze, silver and bright green. Use to provide foliage contrast and most can be clipped as hedges as shown here in the rear of photo.
The BFF of landscapers everywhere and for good reason, Corokia cotoneaster and its various cultivars look stylish but are tough, coping easily with drought, sun, wind and frost.
Their Achilles heel is wet feet so avoid damp soils. Leaf colours include chocolate, bronze, silver and bright green. Use to provide foliage contrast and most can be clipped as hedges as shown here in the rear of photo.
5. Nikau palms
(Rhopalostylis sapida)
Rather than plant introduced varieties why not plant our only native palm? Nikau might be more slow growing than some of the imports but part of the enjoyment is waiting for the arching fronds to unfold and that incredibly sculptural trunk to appear.
There’s a range of nikau varieties around, with those from the Kermadecs and the Chatham Islands having bigger fronds and being more wind tolerant. Moist, fertile soil is ideal with roots shaded from the sun and sheltered from frost.
(Rhopalostylis sapida)
Rather than plant introduced varieties why not plant our only native palm? Nikau might be more slow growing than some of the imports but part of the enjoyment is waiting for the arching fronds to unfold and that incredibly sculptural trunk to appear.
There’s a range of nikau varieties around, with those from the Kermadecs and the Chatham Islands having bigger fronds and being more wind tolerant. Moist, fertile soil is ideal with roots shaded from the sun and sheltered from frost.
6. Coprosma
Shiny leaves, twiggy form or coloured foliage – take your pick. There’s something for everyone in this group of drought-tolerant, wind-hardy shrubs. The small-leaved varieties make great hedges and ground covers, as do the many cultivars of Coprosma repens (pictured).
If you’re after something different, try a mounding hedge of one of the twisted, divaricating coprosmas such as C. viriscens or C. ‘Mangatangi’.
Photo by Flickr user Clifford F
Shiny leaves, twiggy form or coloured foliage – take your pick. There’s something for everyone in this group of drought-tolerant, wind-hardy shrubs. The small-leaved varieties make great hedges and ground covers, as do the many cultivars of Coprosma repens (pictured).
If you’re after something different, try a mounding hedge of one of the twisted, divaricating coprosmas such as C. viriscens or C. ‘Mangatangi’.
Photo by Flickr user Clifford F
7. Kowhai
(Sophora species)
An ideal tree for small gardens with its lacy foliage and brilliant yellow flowers that tui adore.
There are different types of kowhai, some suitable for planting in pots while others can be grown as standards, shrubs or shade trees. Well-drained soil is essential and they like a sunny position.
Watch out for kowhai moth caterpillar, which defoliates plants. They can be controlled with an insecticide or picked off by hand.
Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Velella
(Sophora species)
An ideal tree for small gardens with its lacy foliage and brilliant yellow flowers that tui adore.
There are different types of kowhai, some suitable for planting in pots while others can be grown as standards, shrubs or shade trees. Well-drained soil is essential and they like a sunny position.
Watch out for kowhai moth caterpillar, which defoliates plants. They can be controlled with an insecticide or picked off by hand.
Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Velella
8. New Zealand iris
(LIbertia species)
Looking more like a small flax than an iris, the native Libertia genus comprises three different species including the orange-copper leaved Libertia perigrinans shown here.
Cold weather and sunshine intensify its vibrant colour so plant in exposed places where it can put on a good show.
Spreading by underground runners Libertia perigrinans will eventually cover a large area, creating vibrant swathes of foliage.
(LIbertia species)
Looking more like a small flax than an iris, the native Libertia genus comprises three different species including the orange-copper leaved Libertia perigrinans shown here.
Cold weather and sunshine intensify its vibrant colour so plant in exposed places where it can put on a good show.
Spreading by underground runners Libertia perigrinans will eventually cover a large area, creating vibrant swathes of foliage.
In spring Libertia produce delicate white flowers that are followed by seed capsules. Gather these as they ripen so you can propagate more plants.
9. Hebe
Hebes are an incredibly varied bunch, with a species or cultivar to fit virtually any situation. Shrubs come in all shapes and sizes, as do their leaves and flowers. There’s also a huge range of foliage and flower colours to choose from.
It’s no wonder these versatile plants are bred in many different countries now. A sunny, free-draining spot is best for hebes and they do better if there’s a bit of wind as it helps reduce fungal disease to which they are prone in humid conditions.
Giving your hebes a light trim in spring or summer keeps them in shape. When buying hebes, check where the particular cultivar originates from, so you can be sure it suits your climate.
Hebes are an incredibly varied bunch, with a species or cultivar to fit virtually any situation. Shrubs come in all shapes and sizes, as do their leaves and flowers. There’s also a huge range of foliage and flower colours to choose from.
It’s no wonder these versatile plants are bred in many different countries now. A sunny, free-draining spot is best for hebes and they do better if there’s a bit of wind as it helps reduce fungal disease to which they are prone in humid conditions.
Giving your hebes a light trim in spring or summer keeps them in shape. When buying hebes, check where the particular cultivar originates from, so you can be sure it suits your climate.
10. Puka
(Meryta sinclairii)
What’s not to like about this beautiful small tree with its dramatic, paddle-shaped leaves?
Puka reaches around 5m in height with a spread of 2-3m so give it plenty of space. It also hates frost and wet soil but is happy in windy, coastal gardens with well-drained soil.
Trees cope well with pruning, making it ideal for small gardens, especially if regularly mulched with compost.
Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Kahuroa
(Meryta sinclairii)
What’s not to like about this beautiful small tree with its dramatic, paddle-shaped leaves?
Puka reaches around 5m in height with a spread of 2-3m so give it plenty of space. It also hates frost and wet soil but is happy in windy, coastal gardens with well-drained soil.
Trees cope well with pruning, making it ideal for small gardens, especially if regularly mulched with compost.
Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Kahuroa
11. Hen and Chickens fern
(Asplenium bulbiferum)
One of the easiest ferns to grow due to its tolerance of sun and dry soils, however it will look much better with less of both, rewarding you with 1m-long graceful fronds that look superb mass planted in light shade under trees.
‘Chicks’ or plantlets can be potted up to form new plants as long as there’s a piece of the parent frond still attached.
Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Stickpen
(Asplenium bulbiferum)
One of the easiest ferns to grow due to its tolerance of sun and dry soils, however it will look much better with less of both, rewarding you with 1m-long graceful fronds that look superb mass planted in light shade under trees.
‘Chicks’ or plantlets can be potted up to form new plants as long as there’s a piece of the parent frond still attached.
Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Stickpen
12. Poor Knights lily
(Xeronema callistemon)
No list of natives would be complete without Poor Knights lily, one of our most spectacular plants. You do have to wait for its red brush-like flowers to appear but the sight of a mature plant in full bloom is impressive.
Plants need dry, warm and sunny conditions, which is why they do well in pots on north or west-facing decks. Keeping them root bound improves flowering.
Photo by Flickr user Eric Hunt
YOUR SAY
Which are your favourite Kiwi native plants? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
MORE
True-Blue Native Plants That Do Us Proud
Chirpy Ways to Attract Birds to Your Garden
So Your Garden Style Is: Natural
(Xeronema callistemon)
No list of natives would be complete without Poor Knights lily, one of our most spectacular plants. You do have to wait for its red brush-like flowers to appear but the sight of a mature plant in full bloom is impressive.
Plants need dry, warm and sunny conditions, which is why they do well in pots on north or west-facing decks. Keeping them root bound improves flowering.
Photo by Flickr user Eric Hunt
YOUR SAY
Which are your favourite Kiwi native plants? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
MORE
True-Blue Native Plants That Do Us Proud
Chirpy Ways to Attract Birds to Your Garden
So Your Garden Style Is: Natural
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Love renga renga lilies - especially under deciduous trees where they cope with dry shade with ease. Suppress weeds too and grow and cover so well in just one season! (These may be the same as the Arthropodium mentioned earlier - no sure of the proper name!!)
Cabbage tree trivia: -The older leaves need to be removed from the trunk when they go brown as they don't fall off for AGES! This takes quite some effort but makes a shaggy unkempt tree look pretty funky! However any leaves that do fall cause havoc with the lawn mower! One characteristic of cabbage trees is that where one is cut or broken it will branch and grow two or more where only one trunk was before. This can be used to your advantage if you want a branched tree. If it grows too many new growing tips you can just pull unwanted ones off the trunk before they get too big. And this WONT cause re-branching! Cabbage tree leaves (the old dry ones that don't get caught up in your lawn mower blades) make great kindling -- just loop them into a knot and store. I once tried burning the cut up logs of a downed cabbage tree. They went into the middle of a very hot bonfire - and after it had all burned down there they were, great charred lumps sitting there glaring at me, almost untouched! THEY DONT BURN!! Oh, I think the name comes from the heart of the cabbage tree new growth which is edible! There is a local myth (or truism) that when the cabbage tree flowers luxuriantly it is going to be a bad season, and if the flowers are stunted or non-existent it will be a beauty! Or have I got that the wrong way round.......
There - have I drained the pool of Cabbage Tree trivia?
Cabbage trees also have the most lovely scent, we have 3 at our place and on warm summer nights I could smell them, it took me 3 years to figure out where the scent was coming from. Our garden is a mixture of natives, exotics, and fruiting plants, everything needs to produce for us or be tough, nothing ornamental gets watered here. I love our garden right now
Puka (photo 10) I have found to be okay when small but as it aged, it dropped huge leaves quite noisily. Nothing else grew underneath the tree either. I would only consider planting it,at the back of a fairly large bed,maybe as a feature with a long view to it. I found it quite a disappointment being near a well used patio. It dominated rather than enhanced what was around it. (A case of right plant in the right place in the first place.)