Picea pungens glauca
Colorado blue spruce Ht 5-20m
W. USA. Narrowly conical, evergreen. Blue-grey foliage attractive on young trees. In mild districts needle retention declines, best in cold districts. Popular Christmas tree in USA.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Medium tree
- Evergreen
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Christmas Trees
Picea mexicana
Mexican spruce Ht 20-25m
N.E. Mexico, threatened habitat. Conical crown, bluey-grey needles, faster growing than P. pungens glauca. Small pendant light brown cones. Attractive conifer. Rare in NZ.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Medium tree
- Evergreen
- Christmas Trees
Picea abies
European spruce Ht 30-40m
Boehmerwald (Czech) & Nelson origins. Narrowly conical, evergreen. A tree for moist sites in colder districts. A major timber tree in Europe and for Christmas trees in USA and Europe.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Large tree
- Evergreen
- Tolerates wet sites
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Timber
- Christmas Trees
Phormium tenax
Harakeke or swamp flax Ht 2-3m
NZ evergreen. Broad erect green or bluish-green blades, erect tall flower heads in spring attract nectar feeding birds. Seed pods stand erect. Favours wet sites but adaptable. Used for shelter in exposed moist coastal sites.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Grass - Strap like leaves
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates wet sites
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Erosion control
- Shelter
Phormium tenax (seedlings ex Goliath)
Harakeke or giant swamp flax Ht 3m
Native, stiffly erect evergreen. Taller than usual flax, useful for sheltering stock. Seed pods stand erect. Favours wet sites but adaptable. Used for shelter in exposed moist coastal sites.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Grass - Strap like leaves
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Shelter
Phormium cookianum purpureum
Harakeke or bronze flax Ht 1.5-2.5m
Broadly spreading, evergreen. Broad drooping bronze-purple blades producing a typical coastal flax form.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Grass - Strap like leaves
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates wet sites
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Erosion control
- Shelter
Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin' (POT grown)
Photinia Red Robin Ht 2-3m
Hybrid developed in NZ. Broadly spreading evergreen shrub. Clips well into a neat hedge, the new shoots attractive red against dark green older leaves.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Shrub
- Evergreen
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Shelter
- Container Grown
- Hedging
Phormium cookianum ssp. cookianum
Wharariki or Mountain flax Ht 0.6m
Stiffly erect, evergreen leaves with a dark brown stripe on the edge. Very hardy, naturally growing in subalpine areas. Flowers attract birds and bees Suitable for small gardens and low cover on exposed sites.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Grass - Strap like leaves
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens (POT grown)
Black mondo grass Ht 15cm
East Asia. Tufted grass-like plant, a member of the lily family. Purplish black leaves with small bell shaped pink flowers in summer, followed by glossy black purplish berries. Plant in full sun or light shade, tolerates dry spells.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Grass - Strap like leaves
- Evergreen
- Tolerates shade
- Container Grown
Michelia yunnanensis (POT grown)
Yunnan bush michelia Ht 1-3m
Broadly spreading evergreen. Frost tolerant shrub with masses of large white flowers in spring. A recent introduction from Yunnan. Suitable for the smaller garden.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Shrub
- Evergreen
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Container Grown
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