Natives
Fuchsia excorticata (PLUG grown)
Kotukutku or Tree fuchsia Ht 4-10m
NZ native / Deciduous / Attractive to birds / Attracts bees / Container Grown
One of NZ native truly deciduous trees, losing its leaves in winter in all but the warmest areas. Attractive small flowers appear betwwen August and December. They change from greenish-yellow to purple-red. The flowers are rich in nectar and are visited by honey eating birds, especially tui, bellbirds and silvereyes. The dark purple berries, known as konini by Maori are edible and tast like tamarillos. Possums love tree fuchsia and have eaten it out of many locations. Best planted under trees in damp forest and can grow to 12m and form a trunk over 1 m in this environment.
Hoheria sexstylosa (PLUG grown)
Houhere or Long-leaved Lacebark Ht 5-8m
Small Tree / NZ native / Deciduous / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Attracts bees / Erosion control / Shelter / Container Grown / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly conical, evergreen. Sweetly scented abundant white flowers in March. Good screening tree.
Melicytus ramiflorus (PLUG grown)
Mahoe or whiteywood Ht 6-10m
Small Tree / NZ native / Deciduous / Tolerates shade / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Container Grown
NZ native. Broadly spreading, evergreen. Lanceolate leaves, tiny flowers on the branches followed by small violet-blue berries. Bark is grey-white. Tolerates shade and dryness.
Muehlenbeckia astonii (PLUG grown)
Shrubby tororaro or wirebrush Ht 1-2m
Shrub / NZ native / Deciduous / Tolerates exposed sites / Tolerates dry sites / Container Grown / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
A coastal divaricating shrub with a wiry interlacing habit. Small, bright-green heart-shaped leaves. This plant is extremely hardy, tolerates dry conditions and wind. Popular landscaping plant. Makes an attractive topiary or hedge. Good for cut foliage. Attracts insects and lizards. Deciduous. Extremely hardy.
Plagianthus regius (PLUG grown)
Manatu or Ribbonwood Ht 10-15m
Small Tree / NZ native / Deciduous / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Erosion control / Shelter / Container Grown / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Narrowly conical initially then broadly spreading, deciduous. Small juvenile leaves and vigorous narrow erect habit make it ideal as a nurse tree for more tender plants. NZ wide except the driest coldest parts.