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
Tilia cordata
Small-leaved lime Ht 20-30m
Europe and W Asia. Densely branched pyramidical crown , deciduous. Red bud scales. Heart shaped leaves turn yellow in autumn, mostly hairless except for small tufrs of brown hairs on the underside leaf axils. Scented yellow-green erect flowers held above the bract, attract bees, valuable honey. Fruits round, thin-shelled smooth unribbed 1 -2 seeded. Tolerates limestone soils.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Tolerates limestone soils
Styrax obassia
Fragrant snowbell tree Ht 5-10m
Japan. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Large fairly round leaves, fragrant white flowers in 20cm long racemes. Similar fruits to S. japonica though fewer produced. 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
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 torminalis
Wild service tree Ht 10-25m
Europe to N. Africa. Broadly even crown, deciduous, terminal clusters of white flowers in early summer. Russet brown edible fruits with golden brown autumn colours. Timber valued for cabinet work. Rare in NZ.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Medium tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive autumn colours - brown
- 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
Sorbus devoniensis
Devon form - Sorbus aria Ht 8-12m
Localised in Devon, UK. Broadly columnar deciduous. Dark green leaves - grey beneath. White flowers,bunches of orange, turning brown speckled fruits in late summer. Does well in South Island soils.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Small Tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
Sorbus aucuparia
Rowan Ht 5-15m
European mountain ash. Broadly conical deciduous. Leaves pinnate turning orange in colder areas. White flowers in clusters then red berries. Suited to colder areas. Berries rich in vitamin C for jelly and herbal remedies.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Small Tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive autumn colours - red
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Edible fruits and seeds
Sophora tetraptera (POT grown)
Kowhai - North Island Ht 5-15m
Endemic to the East of North Island, now widely planted. Branches spreading sometimes pendulous. Branchlets clad in a golden yellow or grey tomentum. Leaves 100-150mm with 10-20 pairs of grey-green leaflets well spaced, never crowded or overlapping, densely clad in silky straight appressed hairs. Up to 10 flowers in a bunch Sept.-Dec., nectar attracting tuis , bellbirds and bees. The wood is very hard and durable.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Small Tree
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Container Grown
Sophora prostrata (POT grown)
Kowhai - South Island mountain Ht 1-2m
Endemic to dry stoney Eastern South Island sites. A small dense bush to 2m tall, zig-zaggy branches 25mm long leaves, leaflets 4mm long, drooping orange-yellow flowers in spring, 5cm nobbly pods with hard brown to almost black seeds.
Juveniles & adults similar. Useful for bonsai.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Shrub
- Evergreen
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Container Grown
Pages
