All Species
Alnus cordata
Italian alder Ht 25-30m
Medium tree / Deciduous / Tolerates wet sites / Tolerates exposed sites / Attractive flowers or catkins / Firewood / Erosion control / Shelter / Tolerates pumice soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Corsica, central and S. Italy. Broadly conical, deciduous, fast growing, roots penetrate deeply. Popular for horticultural shelterbelts, trims well into a narrow tall hedge. Sheds some leaves in drought conditions. Used as a nurse crop with oak and redwood providing mycorrhiza, nitrogen and side shade to reduce epicormic regrowth on pruned final crop trees.
Cupressus arizonica (PLUG grown)
Arizona cypress Ht 25-30m
Medium tree / Evergreen / Tolerates exposed sites / Tolerates dry sites / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Shelter / Container Grown / Tolerates pumice soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly conical, silvery-grey evergreen. Drought tolerant, resistant to cypress canker, good for dryland shelterbelts. Bark is fibrous like C. macrocarpa.
Eucalyptus regnans (PLUG grown)
Mountain ash Ht 90m
Large tree / Evergreen / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attracts bees / Timber / Firewood / Container Grown / Forestry species / Tolerates pumice soils
Monocalypt, generally free of insect pests..Tallest hardwood tree, native to mountain ranges of Southern Victoria and Tasmania. Grows on fertile soils with regular rainfall. Higher altitude origins tolerate snow and frost. Valuable pale timber for interior building, marketed as Tasmanian oak. Flowers in summer. More detail in MPI booklet 'Growing Alternative Exotic Forest Species'. Recommend planting in early Spring after chance of frosts.
Pinus pinea (PLUG grown)
Mediterranean stone pine Ht 15-25m
Medium tree / Evergreen / Resistant to salt spray / Tolerates exposed sites / Tolerates dry sites / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Edible fruits and seeds / Container Grown / Tolerates pumice soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly conical when young, develops a broadly arched umbrella shaped evergreen crown. Cones globose, ripen in 3rd year. Large seeds edible. Suited to dry and coastal conditions. Tolerates heat & cold.
Quercus afares (OG grown)
Algerian oak Ht 20-30m
Large tree / Deciduous / Tolerates dry sites / Attractive autumn colours - brown / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Erosion control / Tolerates pumice soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Vigorous, broadly spreading, semi-evergreen in mild climates. Leaves similar in shape to Quercus cerris. Tolerates dry windy conditions. Deer, sheep, goats, ducks and pheasants eat most oak acorns.
Quercus afares (PLUG grown)
Algerian oak Ht 20-30m
Large tree / Deciduous / Tolerates dry sites / Attractive autumn colours - brown / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Erosion control / Container Grown / Tolerates pumice soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Vigorous, narrowly columnar in youth, broadening with age. Semi-deciduous in mild climates, tolerates exposure and dry conditions. Related to Q. cerris..
Quercus affinis (PLUG grown)
Mexican holly-leaf oak
Medium tree / Evergreen / Tolerates dry sites / Timber / Container Grown / Tolerates pumice soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly conical, evergreen. Good central leader on young trees. Young leaves coppery-red turning green at full size, turning yellow in Sping before falling. Rare in NZ.
Quercus cerris
Turkey oak Ht 25-35m
Large tree / Deciduous / Tolerates exposed sites / Tolerates dry sites / Attractive autumn colours - brown / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Erosion control / Tolerates pumice soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Vigorous when established. Broadly spreading, open form, deciduous. Tolerates exposure, dry conditions and atmospheric pollution. Ducks cope with the long acorns.
Quercus crassifolia (PLUG grown)
Leather-leaf Mexican oak Ht 25 -30m
Medium tree / Evergreen / Container Grown / Tolerates pumice soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Tall, straight, evergreen. Leaves thick, coarse textured & toothed. Underside thick and felted, turn red or yellow before falling in spring. New leaves pink, some turning chocolate, others silvery green. Promising growth in NZ, timber potential.
Quercus crispipilis (PLUG grown)
Mexican oak - red oak group Ht 15-27m
Medium tree / Evergreen / Container Grown / Tolerates pumice soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Far south of Mexico in cloud forest and in humid oak-pine forest from 750-2700m altitide. Regenerates naturally after shifting cultivation. Broadly spreading, evergreen. Medium sized, oblong, un-toothed leaves, gradually turning yellow before spring. Promising growth in NZ.
Quercus kelloggii
Californian black oak Ht 15-20m
Large tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - purple / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Tolerates pumice soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly spreading deciduous. Largish leathery, tough leaves - glossy above. New growth has tinges of copper. Acorns nearly half enclosed by a deep cup. Rare in NZ.
Quercus petraea x robur
Hybrid English oak Ht 25-35m
Large tree / Deciduous / Tolerates exposed sites / Tolerates dry sites / Attractive autumn colours - brown / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Timber / Erosion control / Forestry species / Tolerates pumice soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
2nd generation hybrids. Broadly spreading crown with strong central leader, a feature coming from the Q. petraea parent.Thrives in a wide range of conditions. Heavy acorn production for domestic stock and wildlife. Recommended for timber.