Pyrus betulifolia
Pear - Chinese rootstock Ht 5-10m
N. China. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Slender tree. Fast growing. Branches nodding. Grey tomentose in first year. White flowers. 1.5cm brown pears with whitish spots loved by birds in April/May. Used as a rootstock.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Small Tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
Eucalyptus globulus (PLUG grown)
Tasmanian blue gum Ht 40-50m
Symphyomyrtus, more prone to insect attack. Lowlands of E. Tasmania, very rapid early growth. 1.3 million ha. in Southern Europe, short rotation ,8-12 years for pulp, biofuel & firewood.
Vigorous coppice regrowth, recovers from fire resprouting from the bark, grows a lignotuber. Widely planted 1860-1920 then Australian insects caused defoliation of older trees. Older logs difficult to saw and season. Its future is short rotation biomass..
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Evergreen
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attracts bees
- Timber
- Shelter
- Forestry species
Eucalyptus fastigata (PLUG grown)
Brown barrel Ht 40-60m
Monocalypt, generally free of insect pests. New South Wales tablelands to E. Victoria. Tall forest evergreen tree. stringybark over whole trunk. Stable timber prized for decorative flooring. Potential for large volume carbon credits. Recovers well from fire. Healthy over most of NZ. Recommend planting in early Spring after chance of frosts.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Evergreen
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attracts bees
- Timber
- Container Grown
- Forestry species
Eucalyptus nitens (PLUG grown)
Shining gum Ht 40-50m
Symphyomyrtus, more prone to insect attack. Mountains of Victoria. Broadly conical when young, grows rapidly, cold hardy to -12C, best in regular rainfall at higher altitude. Unthrifty by age 20 at low altitude in warmer districts, but yields a lot of firewood. Low tolerance to drought. 700-1750mm rainfall, not for coastal sites, easily killed by fire. Grows to 1300m altitude, and in Westland on well drained soils. Timber non-durable used for flooring, furniture, saws well, needs careful drying. Sheds long strips of bark, coppicing less reliable.
Recommend planting in early Spring after chance of frosts.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Evergreen
- Tolerates wet sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attracts bees
- Timber
- Firewood
- Shelter
- Container Grown
Eucalyptus regnans (PLUG grown)
Mountain ash Ht 50m
Monocalypt, generally free of insect pests..Tallest hardwood tree, native to mountain ranges of Southern Victoria and Tasmania. Grows on fertile soils with regular rainfall. Higher altitude origins tolerate snow and frost. Valuable pale timber for interior building, marketed as Tasmanian oak. Flowers in summer. More detail in MPI booklet 'Growing Alternative Exotic Forest Species'. Recommend planting in early Spring after chance of frosts.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Evergreen
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attracts bees
- Timber
- Container Grown
- Forestry species
Tilia x europaea
Common lime (Linden) Ht 25-45m
Broadly columnar, deciduous. A natural hybrid between Tilia cordata and T.platyphyllos, common throughout NZ. The base of the trunk often with burrs and a mass of basal shoots. Leaves intermediate in size between the parents, thinly hairy with tufts of dense hairs in the underside leaf veins axils. Heavy aphid populations deposit honeydew on everything beneath. Small yellow-white flowers honey-scented hang from a bract.
Oval seeds are hairy, faintly ribbed and dry brown.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Medium tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attracts bees
Styrax japonicus
Japanese snowbell tree Ht 5-10m
Erect trunk, pyramidal form and horizontal branches. Deciduous. In Spring masses of white bell shaped flowers hang under the branches, a stunning sight. Oval grey-green fruits hang until Autumn when ducks and Pheasants eat them. Enjoys a damp site.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Small Tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates wet sites
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
Sorbus domestica
True Service tree Ht 10-15m
S. Europe. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Fairly dense crown. Clusters of white flowers in spring followed by 2.5cm green fruits like small apples or pears. The very sour fruit used in Europe to make a beer. Highly figured timber for furniture. Rare.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Medium tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Edible fruits and seeds
Robinia pseudoacacia
Black locust Ht 20-25m
E. & Midwest USA. Broadly columnar deciduous. Variable stem form. Planted in NZ for slip stabilisation. Fixes nitrogen. Recommend close planting for ground durable posts & firewood. Rootstock grade CUT OFFS @ 65cm for straight new rod growth in Spring. Any other grades will be be uncut
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Medium tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Timber
- Firewood
- Erosion control
Cotinus coggygria purpurea (OG grown)
Purple smoke bush Ht 2.5-4m
Broadly spreading, deciduous. Plume-like purplish tinged flower heads in profusion. Vibrant dark purple foliage. turning red in autumn.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Shrub
- Deciduous
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive autumn colours - red
- Attractive autumn colours - purple
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
Pages