Plant Guide

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Trees

pittosporum-eugenioides-variegatum

Pittosporum eugenioides 'Variegatum'

variegated tarata, variegated lemonwood

Bushy evergreen tree or shrub with variegated foliage. The leaves are 10-15 cm long, 2-4 cm wide, mid green, blotched along the wavy margins with creamy white. Foliage emits a lemon-like scent when crushed, hence the common name. Terminal clusters of honey-scented, 1-1.5 cm wide, pale yellow flowers during spring.

Pittosporum eugenioides is native to New Zealand where it occurs throughout the country along stream banks, forest margins and in forest clearings from sea level to about 600 m. The variegated form grows a bit slower than the species itself. It has a tapering habit when young, filling out to an open topped tree later on. 

Prefers a sunny or partially shaded position in any well-draining soil. Is more tolerant of damp and heavy soils than most other Pittosporum species, but growth will be compromised. Tolerates coastal conditions, moderately strong winds, and medium frosts.

Suitable for hedging or screening purposes. Good contrasting plant in mixed plantings. Also ideal as a specimen tree in particular when pruned to show off the pale grey bark.

Foliage is often used in floral arrangements.

pittosporum-tenuifolium-variegatum

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Variegatum'

variegated kohuhu, variegated tawhiwhi

Evergreen shrub or small tree with variegated foliage, native to New Zealand. Leaves are flat (as opposed to wavy like the species itself), greyish green with white margins, similar to Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Argenteum Variegatum' but larger and more pointed, to about 5 cm long. Small (to 1 cm wide) dark reddish-black, honey-scented fowers with reflexed petals in spring. Dark grey bark.

Prefers a sunny or semi-shaded position in any, well-draining soil. Tolerates medium frosts and is frost hardy throughout New Zealand. Pittosporum tenuifolium is not as tolerant as Pittosporum crassifolium of coastal conditions and strong winds, but copes reasonably well with dry conditions. Tends to loose its leaves if conditions are too wet.

Ideal as a specimen tree for foliage colour, or as a hedge or screening plant.

podocarpus-totara-aurea

Podocarpus totara 'Aurea'

golden totara

Golden-leafed cultivar of Podocarpus totara, a New Zealand native conifer. Pyramidal to columnar growth habit. The needle-like leaves are linear, sessile, 1-3 cm long, 2-4 mm wide. Leaf colour varies somewhat during the year from light green in spring, changing to yellow in summer, and deepening to golden yellow in winter.

Plant in full sun for best foliage colour. Prefers well-draining soil. Tolerates dry conditions once established. Responds well to trimming and is suitable for hedging purposes. Tends to have a bushy habit with foliage from ground level, but can be trained to grow as a specimen tree from an early age by selecting one shoot to become the central leader and gradually removing the side shoots. Make sure to stake the tree when planting in an exposed position. Suitable for coastal gardens.Tolerates moderate frosts, and is hardy throughout New Zealand.

Smaller and slower growing than the species itself, Podocarpus totara 'Aurea' can be accomodated in garden settings for many years. Forms a nice dense hedge.

prunus-billington

Prunus 'Billington'

plum Billington, Japanese plum Billington

Small deciduous tree with white blossoms in late winter and dark red plums in summer. Fruit has firm, sweet tasting, juicy, red flesh. Use as fresh fruit, or for cooking and preserving. Partially self-fertile. Pollinators: 'Black Doris', 'Wilson's Early', 'Omega' or 'Santa Rosa'. Sometimes available as part of a double-grafted plum tree.

Prefers a sunny position in fertile, well-draining soil. Good disease resistance.

Prunus 'Billington' is an early-fruiting plum with a heavy crop of fruits ripening around Christmas time in New Zealand. Beautiful dainty appearance when in flower during winter. Good 'all-rounder'.

prunus-awanui

Prunus x yedoensis 'Awanui'

Vigorous, ornamental cherry, flowering in spring with masses of slightly fragrant, pale pink-white, single flowers. Foliage turns yellow and orange in autumn. 'Awanui' (and Prunus x yedoensis itself), is propagated by means of grafting, but also roots easily from cuttings. Usually it is top-worked, i.e. grafted at a higher level as opposed to near ground-level) to form a clear-stemmed tree with layered branches. Attracts birds, bees, and butterflies.

'Awanui' is a cultivar of the Japanese Prunus x yedoensis, also known as the Yoshino cherry. It was selected by the New Zealand nurseryman Keith Adams. 'Awanui' was the name of the street that gave access to his property, and is the Maori world for gully.

Prefers a sunny position in any well-draining soil. Provide some shelter to prevent flower damage and prolong flowering. Good disease resistance. Frost hardy (zones 5-9). 

An avenue with a row of flowering Prunus x yedoensis 'Awanui' on either side is breathtakingly beautiful. Make sure you have sufficient space for this gorgeous tree as it gets quite wide.

psoralea-pinnata

Psoralea pinnata

Dally pine, blue Psoralea, African scurf pea, blue pea, fountain bush, blue broom, taylorina, fonteinbos, penwortel

Evergreen shrub or small tree in the legume family, with bright green, soft, needle-like leaves. Flowering in early spring with blue and white or lilac and white, pea-like, bee-attracting, scented flowers (to 1.5 cm across) clustered at the ends of the branches. The flowers are followed by small, wrinkled seedpods that each contain a seed. Psoralea pinnata is native to South Africa where it occurs naturally along streams and wet places (i.e. winter-wet areas). It has established itself in other regions of the world such as Southern Australia and the north of New Zealand where it is regarded as a weed. Psoralea pinnata tolerates a wide range of growing conditions, including wind, drought, high rainfall, coastal conditions, and poor soils. Because it is a nitrogen-fixer, it changes the growing environment for the original native plant species that may no longer be able to compete as a result. Germination is stimulated by fire. The pant is relatively short-lived (about 10 years).

Psoralea pinnata prefers a sunny position, except in areas with very high summer temperatures where a partially shaded site is better. Tolerates waterlogged soils, but also copes with occasional drought once estabished. Prune after flowering. Self-seeds quite easily. Tolerates light to moderate frosts (zones 9-11).

Striking tree when in flower. You may need to give it some help in the form of pruning and training to develop a good shape as it does not appear to do so naturally and often has a somewhat straggly, unbalanced appearance.

pyrus-salicifolia-pendula

Pyrus salicifolia 'Pendula'

weeping silver pear or willow-leafed pear

Graceful small tree with a rounded canopy, silvery grey willow-like foliage and pendulous branches. Creamy white flowers, to 2 cm across, in spring, some of which are followed by small pear-like, inedible fruit in autumn. Brief period of yellow autumn foliage. 'Salix' is the Latin word for 'willow'.

Prefers a position in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil. Adaptable to a range of soil conditions. Suitable for coastal planting. Prune in late autumn to keep the canopy compact. Remove branches below the canopy to make sure the rootstock is not going to overtake, and to keep a 'clean' stem.