Wellington region "first fifteen"
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| Cabbage tree |
The 15 native plant species listed below are hardy and well-suited to planting in most parts of the greater Wellington region.
Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium)
Manuka is found mostly in open habitats throughout NZ.It is a fast growing, frost hardy shrub, up tofour metres tall, which establishes well on disturbed land.Flowers and seed capsules can be present from spring to early winter. The insects that pollinate manuka are attractive to fantails and other insect-eating birds.
The roots of young manuka are extremely sensitive to handling so never untangle the roots during re-potting or planting.In restoration planting, less hardy species can be planted later under established manuka or the area can be left to regenerate naturally.
Kanuka (Kunzea ericoides)
Kanuka is a hardy small tree, growing up to 15 metres tall.When young, kanuka looks similar to manuka except the leaves are smaller and more prickly.Kanuka bark is light brown, shedding in long strips. Kanuka thrives in open conditions and can withstand wind, frost and relatively dry conditions.
Ti kouka or cabbage tree (Cordyline australis)
An iconic New Zealand tree that reaches up to 20 metres tall, ti kouka grows along the edges of forests, swamps and river banks.
Cooked tap roots, the core of the trunk and the tender shoots were all important food for Maori.Leaves were an important source of fibre. Ti kouka is tough, likes open sunlight and flowers in early summer, with berries from mid-summer to mid-autumn.It provides food for bellbirds and tui and is extremely good at establishing even in open pasture.Damaged trees can sprout new branches.
Karamu (Coprosma robusta)
This shrub or small tree with leathery leaves grows up to six metres tall and is found throughout New Zealand in lowland forests.
It is tough, likes open sunlight, and is frost hardy. Summer berries are food for waxeyes, bellbirds, kereru, and tui.Karamu is extremely good at establishing even in open pasture and its hardiness and popularity with birds makes it an essential revegetation species.
Akiraho (Olearia paniculata)
From the daisy family, this very hardy shrub to small tree grows up to 6 metres tall, can stand light soils and is found along forest margins and in scrub. Akiraho is mostly a coastal and lowland plant which likes open sunlight and is frost hardy when mature.Akiraho is very leafy year round and flowers in mid summer, after which the seeds disperse into autumn.
Ngaio (Myoporum laetum)
A leafy tree up to 10 metres high, ngaio’s spreading branches shade out understorey vegetation. Ngaio likes open sunlight and is frost hardy when mature. It can recover from light frosts when young.Ngaio flowers from mid-spring to mid-summer and the berries ripen through summer and autumn, providing food for bellbirds and tui.
Manatu or lowland ribbonwood (Plagianthus regius)
Manatu is a common lowland forest tree up to 15 metres tall.Unusually, it is regularly leafless in winter. Manatu flowers from mid-spring to mid summer with fruiting through summer to early autumn. It likes open sunlight and is frost hardy.
Kohuhu (Pittosporum tenuifolium)
Kohuhu is a coastal to lower mountain forest tree, growing up to 8 metres tall.It is found throughout New Zealand except in the west of the South Island. Kohuhu is tough, frost hardy, likes sun and flowers from mid to late spring.Seed capsules mature from mid summer to early autumn, providing food for bellbirds and tui.
Tarata or lemonwood (Pittosporum eugenioides)
Tarata is a tree which grows up to 12 metres tall with a strong lemony smell.It has attractive showy flowers in October, followed by distinctive black seed capsules.It is found throughout New Zealand along forest margins and on stream banks from sea level to 600 metres. arata is frost hardy and tolerates a wide range of conditions (although it can be vulnerable to drought) and is a useful quick growing restoration plant.
Makomako or wineberry (Aristotelia serrata)
Makomako is a very common, fast growing semi-deciduous small tree, growing up to 10 metres tall. It is found throughout New Zealand in forests and scrubland, along forest margins and roadsides. Makomako likes open sunlight and is frost hardy, although it can be vulnerable to drought. Flowers and berries provide food for bellbird, tui, kereru and waxeyes from spring through to early summer.
Koromiko or hebe (Hebe stricta var. atkinsonii)
Koromiko is a common fast growing, hardy shrub with a rounded shape, growing totwo metres. Koromiko is found throughout the North Island on stream banks, shrubland and on the edge of forest remnants. With attractive white flowers in mid to late summer, it thrives in full light and is a useful colonising plant.
Mapou or red matipo (Myrsine australis)
Mapou is a closely branched shrub or small tree, growing up toseven metres tall. It has distinctive red branchlets and glands dotting the wrinkled leaves.It is a hardy plant occurring throughout New Zealand on forest margins.
Toetoe – spring flowering (Cortaderia fulvida)
This native grass is tough and likes open sunlight.Toetoe grows up to two metres high within two to three years of planting.It can be planted on the windward side of a planting area to provide quick shelter.Toetoe is also a useful streamside plant as its roots help to stabilise stream banks.
Totara (Podocarpus totara)
Totara is found throughout New Zealand, mostly in lowland forest on fertile alluvial well-drained soils.It grows up to 30 metres tall, likes open sunlight, and is frost hardy and attractive to birds. One of the largest trees in the forest, this has been the most prized tree to Maori.Totara timber was the best for building massive war canoes and was the main timber used for carving.Totara flowers in early summer and smooth red berries form in late summer.Totara look good planted in groups.
Puahou or five-finger (Pseudopanax arboreus)
Five-finger is a common native tree found from sea level to 760 metres in forests and open scrub from North Cape to Southland. It reacheseight metresin height and has characteristic leaf with five to seven ‘fingers’.