Shrub

Slow growing bushy shrub with shiny, leathery, toothed leaves, 6 to 12 cm long, heavily spotted and blotched with yellow. Aucuba japonica 'Crotonifolia' is dioecious, meaning it has separate male and female plants. The flowers are tiny and insignificant, chocolate brown to purplish, .5 cm across. On female plants, the flowers are followed after pollination by bright red, 1 cm wide berries. Foliage and berries are harmful when ingested.

Thrives in shade or partial shade. Leaves may get scorched in full sun. Requires well-draining soil, and does not cope with waterlogged conditions. Tolerates air pollution. Usually has a compact growth habit, but can be pruned to shape. Withstands drought, although growth is more luxuriant with regular moisture supply.

Wonderful foliage plant to lighten up a dark area, or to give your garden a lush, tropical feel. Also looks good as a hedge for year-round interest. If you like to see berries on your shrub, make sure to select a male plant for pollination and a female plant for fruit production. One male plant is sufficient for about eight female plants. Looks lovely in combination with the purple flowers of Liriope muscari, which thrives in similar growing conditions.

Evergreen shrub with heath-like foliage and orange-red flowers appearing in autumn or winter, native to Australia and named after the botanist Joseph Banks who originally collected Banksia ericifolia in 1770. Bright green, linear leaves, 1-3 cm long, 1 mm wide, usually with two small teeth near the tips. Erect, cylindrical, orange to red flower spikes, 7-20 cm long, 5 cm across, followed by cone-like seed-bearing structures. Individual flowers with long, wiry, hooked styles. In nature, seeds are released by fire.

Prefers a sunny or partially shaded position in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. No or light pruning only to maintain shape and keep compact. Tolerates drought and light frosts. Is suitable for coastal areas, but grows only to a height of 1-2 m in exposed areas.

Beautiful specimen for flower display. Attracts birds feeding on nectar. Can also be used as a hedge or a screen. Flowers last well on water.

Evergreen shrub or sometimes a small tree, native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Large, ovate, felted leaves, often wavy or shallowly lobed,18-25 cm long, smaller on flowering stems. Solitary, pendulous trumpet-shaped flowers, 15-20 cm long, yellowish with scarlet-orange. Unlike the flowers of most other Brugmansia species, which are scented to attract moths for pollination, Brugmansia sanguinea flowers are not fragrant, and in their native habitat are pollinated by hummingbirds. All parts are poisonous. Naturalised in New Zealand.

Synonyms: Datura sanguinea, Datura rosei, Datura rubella, Brugmansia bicolor, Brugmansia lutea.

Prefers a sheltered position in partial or full shade. In cool climates, a sunny position is fine too. Hot temperatures inhibit flowering. Difficult to propagate from vertical cuttings, but can be propagated from horizontal stem sections or layering. Tolerates light to medium frosts. May be damaged by moderate frosts, but generally survives.

Specimen shrub with a tropical appearance and beautiful flowers for most of the year. 

Evergreen fine-textured shrub or tree with small green leaves and inconspicuous greenish cream flowers. Glossy green, simple, ovate to oblong leaves, 1.5-2.5 cm long, arranged in opposite pairs along the stems. Foliage emits a distinctive scent that is not to everyone's liking. Fresh green spring leaves, turning mid to dark green later in the year. Clusters of tiny flowers without petals during late spring. Usually grown and maintained as a shrub, but can eventually reach tree-like proportions up to about 9 m tall.

Grows in a wide range of conditions, except waterlogged soil. Once established, Buxus sempervirens tolerates drought. In suitable growing conditions, a growth rate of 10-15 cm can be expected. In deep shade, very exposed situations, or very poor soils, growth is much slower. Most cultivars have a slower growth rate than the species. Responds well to trimming, and can be maintained to a height of 50 cm or less for many years. Trimming during late summer gives the plant a chance to produce sufficient new growth from early spring, and prevents sunburn of young leaves formed after the trim. After a number of years cut out some of the mature stems below the pruning height for the rest of the plant to improve ventilation through the foliage and avoid overcrowding at the top.

Widely used as a formal hedging plant with about 4 to 6 plants per meter for low hedges. Suitable for topiary projects. Since it can be trimmed to any shape, Buxus sempervirens is a very useful shrub to add a structural element to garden beds. Can also be grown in containers. 

Evergreen shrub with dense, erect growing habit. Glossy dark green, toothed leaves, 8.5 x 3.5 cm. Exquisite pale pink, semi-double, 11 cm wide flowers during winter and early spring. The golden anthers remain behind on the plant for a while after the flowers have turned brown and subsequently dropped. Originated in New Zealand as a hybrid of Camellia pitardii var. pitardii and Camellia japonica, first flowering in 1972.

Prefers a sheltered position in partial shade and well-drained acidic soil. Tolerates sun or shade. Does well in dappled shade under large trees, but is shallow-rooting (like other camellias) so may need watering during dry periods of the year in particular when growing in such positions. No pruning required or just a light prune after flowering.

Great for flower display, as a medium-sized hedge, and as a dark green background for plants that flower during other times of the year. 

Evergreen, free-flowering shrub with average growth rate. Mid green, toothed leaves, 9 cm long, 5 cm wide. Dark pink flower buds open during winter to reveal beautiful, fluffy, pink, peony-form flowers with golden anthers and more than 20 petals, 13 cm across.

Originated as a seedling of Camellia pitardii, raised by Neville Haydon in Papakura, New Zealand, first flowering in 1985.

Prefers a position in acidic soil and partial shade. The Camellia 'Nonie Haydon' in the photo was flowering and growing happily in a sheltered, fully shaded position.

Perfect for flower display during mid to late winter, and suitable for hedging or background for plants flowering during other times of the year.

Evergreen winter flowering shrub with dense upright growth habit. Dark green, toothed leaves, 4.5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. Small red flowers with golden yellow stamens, 5-7 petals, 7.5 cm across. Originated as a chance seedling of Camellia 'Kanjiro' (Camellia 'Hiryu') at Nuccio's nurseries in Altadena, CA, USA, and flowered for the first time in 1959. 

Prefers a sheltered, partially shaded position in well-drained soil. Prune after flowering. Feed with acid fertiliser in spring.

Looks great as a formal or informal hedge or as a dark green background for shrubs that flower at other times of the year. Can also be successfully espaliered or grown as a topiary shrub or container plant. Forms a striking combination with shrubs that produce winter berries, such as Ilex (holly) and Pyracantha (firethorn).

Evergreen shrub with an upright habit and dark green foliage. Simple, ovate, leathery, glossy, toothed leaves to 9 cm long and 5 cm wide. Large rosy red peony-form flowers, 10 cm across, during late winter.

Les Jury hybrid. Originated in New Zealand as a seedling from a cross between Camellia saluensis and Camellia japonica 'Leviathan'. First flowered in 1959.

Camellia x williamsii 'Anticipation' prefers a sheltered position in partial shade in any well-drained acidic or neutral soil. Tolerates shade and also copes with a position in full sun.

Prune after flowering to maintain shape and compactness.

Vigorous, wide-spreading evergreen shrub, developed from a plant originally collected at Yankee Point in Monterey County in California. Glossy dark green, oval leaves, 2.5-4 cm long, 1.5-3.5 cm wide. Particularly attractive in spring when masses of powdery blue flowers in panicles form a beautiful colour contrast with the young light green leaves and the dark green mature foliage. 

Synonym: Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis 'Yankee Point'

Prefers a sunny position in well-drained soil, but is also suitable for a partially shaded position. Not happy in wet or heavy soils, but 'Yankee Point' can handle such conditions better than most other Californian lilacs. Drought-tolerant once established. Copes well with poor, sandy soils. Suitable for coastal gardens. Tolerates medium frosts. Prune yearly to maintain compact and vigorous.

Great for covering banks and slopes, especially in coastal areas. Can be trained as a hedge or grown as a container plant.

Evergreen shrub with purple tubular flowers 2-3 cm long in terminal panicles on long, arching branches. Ovate to lance-shaped leaves, 10-15 cm long, to 3 cm wide. Cross between Cestrum elegans and Cestrum parqui. All parts are poisonous. Hardy to -7^oC.

Cestrum x cultum may be cut back after flowering to near ground level and will re-grow during the next season to a height of about 2m.

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.

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.

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'. 

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.