New Zealand Native Plants

It used to be that the first thing to say when writing about New Zealand natives was that despite being largely ignored they really were wonderful garden plants. That can scarcely be necessary now as every garden centre has its native plants’ section and very few gardeners can be completely unaware of the merits of our large and varied native flora.Even so, and despite the fact that there is a native plant for every garden situation, they are often still unfairly dismissed as being bland and boring. It is a paradox that New Zealand natives are generally more appreciated abroad than at home. British gardeners feel privileged if their gardens are mild enough to allow them to grow pittosporums, flaxes and astelias, but we still tend to ignore these plants. So perhaps the time has not passed when it has to be said that New Zealand native plants are unfairly discriminated against by the very gardeners that are in the best position to grow them.One of the great advantages of natives is their ready adaptability to a wide range of New Zealand climates. Kauri (Agathis australis), for example, only occurs naturally in the north of the North Island, but it will grow perfectly well, if very slowly, in Dunedin. Many other native plants, such as kaka beak (Clianthus puniceus), Marlborough rock daisy (Pachystegia insignis), Tecomanthe speciosa, and the Poor Knights’ lily (Xeronema callistemon), also have very restricted natural ranges yet they thrive in gardens over a large part of the country.A lack of colour is often cited as a problem with natives. Granted, there are few that are very flamboyant in the way of tropical plants, but New Zealand natives are just as colourful in flower as any other temperate climate plants and often brighter in foliage.Indeed the foliage of the native perennials, shrubs and trees is often their greatest asset. It’s hard to think of any perennial that could create as bold an impact as the metallic-looking shafts of Astelia chathamica ‘Silver Spear’. And no imported shrub has foliage anywhere near as striking as the variegated puka (Meryta sinclairii ‘Moonlight’); while few trees have any feature as distinctive as the gracefully weeping bronze branches of a young rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum) What is more, most of the native plants are evergreen, which enhances their appeal, although it does mean that they tend to look much the same throughout the year.Native plants have a wide range of flower types and they are not all white-flowered as disparagers suggest. Among the trees, that harbinger of spring, the golden-yellow kowhai (Sophora species), and the brilliant red blooms of the pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa) are undoubtedly the best known and the most impressive. But consider also the fuchsia-like red flowers of the puriri (Vitex lucens) and the fragrant reddish-purple karo (Pittosporum crassifolium). And few gardeners would dismiss the showy panicles of Hoheria populnea and the 100 mm long bottlebrush blooms of kamahi (Weinmannia racemosa) just because they are white.The best known flowering shrubs are the hebes. This genus includes many species and hybrids and is available in every flower colour except yellow. The long-keeled red flowers of the kaka beak, the pretty little parahebes and the cherry blossom-like bloom of the manuka (Leptospermum scoparium cultivars) are also very showy.New Zealand has many fine flowering perennials too. The bright blue heads of the Chatham Island forget-me-not, and the white-flowered renga renga lily (Arthropodium cirrhatum) are indispensable. Our alpines too, include many very distinctive and attractive flowering perennials. The yellow snow marguerite (Dolichoglottis lyallii) and the giant buttercup (Ranunculus lyallii) would sure be among the most popular garden plants if only they were easier to cultivate. Less showy and less demanding are the unusual black daisy (Cotula atrata) and some of the Celmisia species with their large white and yellow daisies.Large clump-forming grasses and perennials with long narrow leaves are among the most characteristic features of the New Zealand flora. They are generally hardy, grow in most soils and are extremely wind resistant. In fact the native grasses in particular often look their best when being rippled by a strong wind. Over the years, native plant enthusiasts have selected the best forms, so that New Zealand flaxes, astelias and grasses are now extensively planted worldwide.It is a common practice to set aside areas of gardens and parks especially for native plants and this is often seen as a way of helping to conserve the nation’s plant heritage. However it is important to realise that most of the ‘native’ plants sold in garden centres are really cultivated forms that would be extremely unlikely to survive in the wild. If you want to be a purist when it comes to growing natives, you will have to restrict yourself to true species and only those that occur naturally in your area. Selected forms may be acceptable, but fancy hybrids are definitely out for the dedicated native grower.Nevertheless hybrid native plants and those from outside your region will still attract native animals, and the birds and the nectar-loving geckoes don’t seem too concerned about whether the plants that feed them are natural species or garden cultivars. By planting a wide selection of nectar- and berry-bearing natives it should be possible to have something to offer the birds every day of the year. A stand of native plants in a garden can be a lifesaver for native birds, and if you are willing to provide supplementary feed, you may find that your garden takes on an exciting new dimension with regular visitors that may become permanent residents.Don’t feel restricted in your use of natives, they fit in well in any garden design and are very adaptable with regard to climate, soil type and moisture levels. They can be used in exactly the same ways as their exotic cousins and can be combined with them, which is probably the best option for most gardeners. Our trees, shrubs and perennials can hold their own with plants form anywhere in the world, but if the New Zealand flora is lacking in any area it must be in the showy flowering bulbs and annuals that are so useful for creating drifts of colour. By combining our plants with the best imports we can have gardens that want for nothing.

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