Conifers
Larix kaempferi
Japanese larch Ht 30-35m
Large tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Christmas Trees / Forestry species / Tolerates limestone soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Narrowly conical, deciduous. Valuable timber tree. Soft bluey-green needles in spring, orange in autumn, quite spectacular. Copes with warmer sites better than L. decidua. Less flammable than pines. Good interplant for Sequoia.
Larix x eurolepis
Hybrid larch Ht 30-40m
Large tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - yellow / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Firewood / Christmas Trees / Forestry species / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
(L decidua x L kaempferi) Narrowly conical, deciduous. Faster growth, good form and valuable timber. Yellow-orange autumn colour, mid way between parents. Has done well in trials, outperforming the parents. Low wilding risk.
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Dawn redwood Ht 30-40m
Large tree / Deciduous / Tolerates wet sites / Attractive autumn colours - brown / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Erosion control / Forestry species / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
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.
Picea orientalis (PLUG grown)
Oriental spruce Ht 20-40m
Large tree / Evergreen / Tolerates exposed sites / Tolerates dry sites / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Christmas Trees / Shelter / Container Grown / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Asia minor and Caucasus. Narrowly conical, evergreen. Not common in NZ but proven healthy tree. Small needles densely pressed to the branches. Cones purple when young. Tolerates dry conditions.
Picea pungens glauca (OG grown)
Colorado blue spruce Ht 5-20m
Medium tree / Evergreen / Tolerates exposed sites / Tolerates dry sites / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Christmas Trees / Shelter / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
W. USA. Narrowly conical, evergreen. Blue-grey foliage attractive on young trees. In mild districts needle retention declines, best in cold districts. Popular Christmas tree in USA.
Picea pungens glauca (PLUG grown)
Colorado blue spruce Ht 5-20m
Medium tree / Evergreen / Tolerates exposed sites / Tolerates dry sites / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Christmas Trees / Container Grown / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
W. USA. Narrowly conical, evergreen. Blue-grey foliage attractive on young trees. In mild districts needle retention declines, best in cold districts. Popular Christmas tree in USA.
Taxodium distichum
Swamp cypress Ht 25-35m
Large tree / Deciduous / Tolerates wet sites / Attractive autumn colours - brown / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
S E & Central USA. Narrowly columnar, deciduous. Soft green foliage turns rich brown in late Autumn. Swamp tolerant but thrives on well drained soils. Timber similar to cypress. Utilise your really wet sites.
Taxodium distichum v. mexicanum (POT grown)
Montezuma cypress (T. mucronatum) Ht 25m
Medium tree / Evergreen / Tolerates wet sites / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Mexico. Broadly conical, evergreen, bronzing in winter. A long lived tree from the Mexican highland, along streams. Can be frosted at the seedling stage, but withstands -8C in the second year. Develops deep roots, useful for gully planting.