Loose vase-shaped deciduous shrub native to China. Very fragrant, waxy, cup-shaped flowers, 1.5-2.5 cm across, on previous season's bare wood during winter, pale yellow with purplish-red stain in the center on the inner petals. Opposite, lance-shaped, dark green leaves, 7-12 cm long, with rough upper surface, turning yellow in autumn. Chimonanthus praecox 'Grandiflorus' has larger deep yellow flowers to 5 cm across. Chimonanthus praecox 'Luteus' has slightly larger yellow flowers without the purplish-red stain.

Prefers a sheltered position in full sun or light shade with good drainage. Best planted against a dark background where you can enjoy the flowers and their fragrance.

Synonyms: Chimonanthus fragrans, Meratia praecox

Clump forming tussock grass with weeping green leaves. Gracefully arching flower stems with drooping, silky, pale green plumes, turning a cream colour with maturity. The first flowers appear in late spring and may remain on the plant until the next season. Often referred to as a miniature toetoe. Occurs naturally in localised areas along the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. Hardy to -12^oC.

Looks great in combination with flaxes and Muehlenbeckia astonii.

In warm and humid areas Chionochloa flavicans is prone to Phytophtera, so will need to be planted in dry or free-draining soil.

Rounded, evergreen shrub native to southern USA and Mexico. Glossy leaves palmately divided into three leaflets, 5-8 cm long, covered with oilglands, aromatic when crushed.  Clusters of small, star-shaped, scented, pure white flowers, 1-2 cm across, similar to orange blossoms in shape and fragrance. Main flowering season is spring, but flowers intermittently during the rest of the year.

Choisya ternata prefers a sheltered position in full sun, but copes with full shade. In very hot climates a position in partial shade whithout afternoon sun is best. Will grow in a range of soils, including sandy or loamy, and acidic or neutral. Drought tolerant once established. 

Lightly prune after flowering.

Evergreen shrub, flowering in spring and summer with deep pink, crepe paper like, 5 cm wide flowers with yellow central stamens and a maroon blotch at the base of each petal. Sticky brown  stems and narrow green leaves in opposite pairs. 

Prefers a sunny spot in light, well-draining soil. Tolerates clay. Cistus x purpureus 'Brilliancy' tends to form quite an open shrub, and needs trimming after flowering to keep it compact. No need for fertilisers. Drought-tolerant once established. Suitable for coastal gardens and exposed sites. Frost hardy (zones 7-10). All Cistus species thrive in Mediterranean climate types.

Individual flowers only last one day, but the plant is generally smothered with flowers in particular at the beginning of the flowering season and puts on a fantastic show.

Large, evergreen shrub, native to Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, and India. Can be trained to grow as a tree with a single leader. Soft, downy, ovate leaves to 12 cm long, arranged in opposite pairs, emitting a peanut butter scent when crushed. Fragrant, white, jasmine-like flowers in clusters during late summer, followed by blue fruit, each subtended by a red calyx. Regarded as an 'unwanted organism' in New Zealand, where it has become invasive and poses a threat for the native vegetation. Seeds are poisonous and the rest of the plant may irritate the skin.

Prefers a sheltered position in full sun and any well-draining soil. Copes with partial shade also.Tolerates moderate frosts (USDA zones 7-10). Generally disease-free.

Beautiful shrub when in flower, and even more attractive when in fruit. May get leggy at the base, so use underplanting to hide this. In New Zealand, you will not be able to purchase Clerodendrum trichotomum since it has become somewhat too enthusiastic! There are still quite a few growing in parks and private gardens.

Evergreen shrub, endemic to New Zealand, but rare in the wild. The pinnately compound, 15-25 cm long leaves resemble those of another New Zealand native plant, the kowhai (Sophora species). Drooping, 8 cm long, red flowers, shaped somewhat like the New Zealand native parrot's (kaka's) beak. May flower at any time during the year, but most  specimens flower during spring or summer. The photo was taken in early spring. Green, pea-like seed pods. 

Clianthus maximus is similar to Clianthus puniceus, and for a long time was treated as a variety of the latter. Also sold as Clianthus 'Kaka King'. Compared to Clianthus puniceus, Clianthus maximus has larger flowers and leaves, and its foliage is glossy and darker green.

Prefers an open sunny position in well-draining, fertile soil. Not tolerant of very wet, waterlogged conditions, but tolerates dry soils once established. When growing conditions are not ideal, Clianthus maximus is susceptible to a range of pests, including caterpillars, slugs, snails, leaf miners and thrips. The shrub tends to have an open habit, in particular when not grown in full fun, so prune regularly to keep the plant compact. Tolerates light to medium frosts. Suitable for coastal gardens and exposed sites. Can be short-lived, and may need to be replaced after 3-5 years. Easy to propagate from cuttings or seed.

Attractive, fast growing, New Zealand native plant with gorgeous flowers in large clusters. Can be trained as a climber or espaliered.

Clump-forming, evergreen, rhizomatous perennial, native to South Africa. Strap-shaped, shiny dark green leaves, 0.6-1 m long and 5-8 cm wide. Long-stalked umbels of 10-20 or more brilliant orange, trumpet-shaped flowers during early spring, and sporadically at other times of the year. Flowers are followed by berries containing up to 20 seeds, but usually less than 10. Several cultivars are available, including bright yellow, creamy yellow, pale orange, red-orange forms. All parts are poisonous.

Prefers a sheltered spot in full or dappled shade and well-draining soil. Avoid a position in bright sunlight to prevent damage to the leaves.  Water only in dry weather during the warmer months of the year, but keep dry during winter. Tolerates light frosts only. Easy to propagate by means of division.

Excellent plant for a position under the eaves on the shady side of the house. Bold and bright flower display when planted en masse. Flowers last well on water. Foliage is attractive all year round and has good strong, textural qualities, perfect for gardens with a (sub)tropical theme or for combinations with finer-leafed plants, such as ferns. Suitable for containers, either as an indoor or outdoor plant.

Herbaceous perennial with narrow strap-shaped leaves, flowering in autumn with lilac crocus-like flowers (5-8 cm wide). The leaves appear in spring and die down before the flowers emerge. All parts are poisonous on ingestion and contact with the skin may cause irritations.

Originally from Central and South-East Europe, Colchicum autumnale is naturalised in many countries, including New Zealand. Although the flowers look very similar to those of the Crocus, Colchicum autumnale and Crocus belong to different plant families and are only distantly related in a genetic sense. Apart from a difference in flowering time, you can also tell them apart by the fact that a crocus has three stamens and an autumn crocus has six.

Prefers a sunny, sheltered position in well-draining soil. Poor drainage may result in corm rot. In hot climates, partial shade is best. Can be propagated by dividing the corms when they are dormant during winter. Frost hardy (zones 5-9).

Lovely for flower display in woodland gardens or in containers. When selecting a spot, consider the fact that the leaves will turn yellow and die in summer, so you may not wish to give it the prime position in your garden, but one to give you a sweet surprise when walking past in autumn. The flower stems tend to be somewhat floppy, and possibly surrounding ground-covering plants could offer support. 

Bun-shaped evergreen shrub with silvery appearance, native to the Mediterranean. Silky, grey-green leaves, covered with tiny hairs. White flower buds, flushed with pink, open to short trumpet-shaped, 4 cm wide, white flowers with yellow centers, often completely covering the plant. Flowers close at night and may only partially open on dull days. 

Convolvulus cneorum prefers a position in full sun and light, poor to moderately fertile, well draining soil. Tolerates coastal conditions, drought, and light to medium frosts. Usually free from pests and diseases. Lightly trim after flowering to keep compact. Suitable for containers.

Excellent choice for hot and dry areas. Suitable as a low, informal hedge or path edging. Combines beautifully with purples and blues. The silvery foliage looks great when planted en masse and used as a colour and shape contrast for more architectural shrubs such as dark--leafed flax cultivars, or as a shape contrast for grey, architectural plants like Astelia chathamica 'Silver spear'. 

Evergreen, trailing ground-covering plant belonging to the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae), native to North Africa, Spain, and Italy. Funnel-shaped blue to mauve flowers, 2.5 cm wide, appearing mainly during summer and early autumn. Flowers open and close in relation to the amount of sunlight they receive. Soft, fine-haired grey-green leaves, 1.5-3.5 cm long.

Synonym: Convolvulus mauritanicus.

Prefers a sunny position in any well-draining soil. Drought tolerant once established. Tolerates moderate frosts (zones 8-10).  Trim in late winter to prevent the plant from becoming too woody. Suitable for coastal areas.

Undemanding, easy care plant that flowers profusely in summer. Looks great, trailing over walls. Not invasive (unlike the common morning glory).

Low mound-forming, New Zealand native ground-cover with intertwining, brown-orange branches and very small, needle-like, olive green leaves. Blue berries are formed when plants of both sexes are present. Occurs naturally in coastal areas throughout New Zealand.

Prefers a sunny position in well-draining soil.

Excellent ground-covering, low-maintenance plant with an unusual wiry texture that contrasts beautifully with large, shiny, and/or smooth foliage (e.g. flaxes, Astelia, Arthropodium). Great for coastal gardens and hot, dry areas.

Variable evergreen shrub or tree to 4-6 m tall, with oblong, thick, very shiny leaves. Leaf size varies from 6-9 cm long and 4-7 cm wide in shade to 2-3 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide in full sun. Leaf margins may be wavy or somewhat curled under.  Like many coprosma species, the leaves have small pits (domatia) between the midvein and one or more lateral veins of the undersides. Inconspicuous female and male flowers on separate plants. On female plants, flowers are followed by bird-attracting orange-red drupes.

Occurs naturally throughout the North Island and parts of the South Island of New Zealand. Has give rise to a number of variegated cultivars.

Extremely tough plant, tolerant of very exposed coastal situations where it may become prostrate or assume gnarled and twisted shapes. Prefers full sun, but tolerates partial shade well. Copes with deep shade, but is more stretched and less compact. Intolerant of wet or waterlogged soil. Suitable for dry areas. Tolerates light frosts.

Responds well to clipping and is often used as a hedge, in particular in coastal areas.

Variegated cultivar of the natural hybrid Coprosma x kirkii, a New Zealand native, ground covering plant. The tiny leaves are green with a cream margin, resulting in a grey overall appearance. Tough, mat-forming, woody plant.

Prefers a sunny or lightly shaded position in any well-draining soil. Drought-tolerant once established. Suitable for coastal or exposed conditions. Good for erosion control on banks. Frost hardy to about -12 deg Celsius. Requires very little attention other than an occasional trim to keep the plant low and dense.

In my city Coprosma x kirkii 'Variegata' is a popular ground covering plant in public spaces, such as gardens of car parks, where it is successfully used to form a dense, tidy looking, light grey mat that helps to keep the weeds down, thus reducing maintenance requirements.

Tall, evergreen tree, endemic to New Zealand, with a rounded canopy consisting of large clusters of long, narrow leaves. Common throughout New Zealand in open ground, around swamps and damp places, and along forest margins. The leaves are linear with an entire margin, and up to 1 m long by 6 cm wide. They turn brown with age and remain hanging on the tree for a long time before falling, forming a skirt beneath the young green leaves. Large panicles of small, 0.5 cm wide, creamy white, strongly scented flowers are produced on mature trees in summer, attracting bees. Birds like the blue-white berries that are formed subsequently. Cordyline australis grows to about 15 m high, with an unbranched trunk when young (and undamaged), and forming side-branches in the upper part later.

The Maoris used the leaves of Cordyline australis for medicinal purposes, and the roots of young trees as a source of food. Early settlers hollowed out the trunks of large specimens to make chimneys, since the timber (unlike the foliage) is fire-resistant. They used to boil and eat young shoots as a substitute for cabbage, hence the common name. 

Prefers a position in full sun or partial shade. Likes moist soil, but can cope with considerable drought once established. Grows in just about any soil type, including clay soils as long as they are not too impermeable. Tolerates moderate frosts (to zone 8) and is hardy throughout New Zealand. Suitable for coastal and exposed sites. Caterpillars may cause some leaf damage. Stressed trees are susceptible to rust. In warm, humid areas root rot (Phytophtora) may become a problem, but can be avoided by growing other plants beneath the trees to keep their root-zones cool.

Great choice for a stunning architectural statement. Imagine a group of cabbage trees with a simple, contrasting under-planting of Muehlenbeckia astonii. You may want to plant Cordyline australis at some distance from your lawn....the lawnmower doesn't like the tough old leaves! Useful as a primary coloniser and good for erosion control on steep banks and along streambanks.