Conifers
Abies grandis (OG grown)
Grand fir Ht 40-50m
Large tree / Evergreen / Tolerates shade / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Christmas Trees / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Western Canada to N. California. Narrowly conical, evergreen, dark green foliage, tangerine smell when crushed. Shade tolerant. Suited to uneven aged selection forestry. Large timber volume producer.
Abies grandis (PLUG grown)
Grand fir Ht 40-50m
Large tree / Evergreen / Tolerates shade / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Christmas Trees / Container Grown / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Western Canada to N. California. Narrowly conical, evergreen, dark green foliage, tangerine smell when crushed. Shade tolerant. Suited to uneven aged selection forestry. Large timber volume producer.
Abies nordmanniana (PLUG grown)
Caucasian fir Ht 30-50m
Large tree / Evergreen / Tolerates shade / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Christmas Trees / Container Grown / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Caucasus Mountains and N E Turkey. Narrowly conical, evergreen. Old trees in Nelson area were spectacular, most have now been felled. Top ranked Christmas tree in Europe. Rare in New Zealand.
Abies pinsapo (PLUG grown)
Spanish fir Ht 20-25m
Medium tree / Evergreen / Tolerates exposed sites / Tolerates dry sites / Tolerates shade / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Shelter / Container Grown / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly conical, evergreen. Short densely arranged blunt grey-green to grey-blue needles. 15cm upright cylindrical cones. Slow growing but tolerates very dry and exposed conditions.
Abies vejarii (OG grown)
Vejar silver fir Ht 30-40m
Large tree / Evergreen / Tolerates shade / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Tamaulipa Province, Mexico, only found on 500 hectares. Narrowly conical, evergreen. Blueish green needles. Vigorous growth, two specimens are the tallest trees in our 35-year-old collection. Large volume timber production. Good near Fairlie.
Abies vejarii (PLUG grown)
Vejar silver fir Ht 30-40m
Large tree / Evergreen / Tolerates shade / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Container Grown / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Tamaulipa Province, Mexico, only found on 500 hectares. Narrowly conical, evergreen. Blueish green needles. Vigorous growth, two specimens are the tallest trees in our 35-year-old collection. Large volume timber production. Good near Fairlie
Podocarpus macrophyllus 'Maki' (POT grown)
Buddhist pine Ht 6-12m
Small Tree / Evergreen / Tolerates shade / Attractive to birds / Container Grown / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
S. Japan & S.E. China. Northern most Podocarpus. A coniical evergreen small to medium tree with bright green 6-12mm strap-like leaves. A popular screening tree in Auckland and mild areas of Nelson.
Podocarpus totara (PLUG grown)
Totara Ht 25-30m
Large tree / NZ native / Evergreen / Tolerates dry sites / Tolerates shade / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Container Grown / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly conical or spreading when open grown, evergreen. Huge trunks on old trees. Bark peels in long strips. Tiny fruits attract birds. Timber is prized for carving & interior joinery.
Prumnopitys taxifolia (OG grown)
Matai Ht 25m
Large tree / NZ native / Evergreen / Tolerates shade / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly columnar, evergreen. Juvenile divaricating form with scattered thin brown leaves. Adult form develops above with yew-like foliage. Bark falls off in rounded patches. Moist fertile sites. Highly prized hard stable timber. Kereru eat the fruit.
Taxus baccata (PLUG grown)
English yew Ht 10-20m
Small Tree / Evergreen / Tolerates dry sites / Intolerant to clay soils / Tolerates shade / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Container Grown / Hedging / Tolerates limestone soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Wide spreading, evergreen. Very shade tolerant and casts very heavy shade. Foliage poisonous to horses. Clips well as a formal hedge. Enjoys alkaline soils but not heavy clays.
Thuja plicata (PLUG grown)
Western red cedar Ht 30-40m
Large tree / Evergreen / Tolerates wet sites / Tolerates exposed sites / Tolerates shade / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Shelter / Container Grown / Forestry species / Hedging / Tolerates limestone soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
W USA. Narrowly conical, evergreen. Foliage turning bronze in cold winters. Prefers damp soils & regular rainfall. Retains branches to ground level forming excellent shelter. Timber light, tough and durable, valuable for joinery and shingles.
Thuja standishii x plicata 'Green Giant' (POT grown)
Thuja 'Green Giant'
Large tree / Evergreen / Tolerates wet sites / Tolerates exposed sites / Tolerates shade / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Shelter / Container Grown / Forestry species / Hedging / Tolerates limestone soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Narrowly conical, evergreen spontaneous hybrid discovered in Denmark, Thuja standishii x plicata. Foliage remains dark green in winter. Retains branches to ground level forming excellent shelter. Timber expected to be light, tough and durable. Resistant to deer browsing in the USA.