Maori magic - avant gardener

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plant profile ● NEW ZEALAND PLANTS 

Maori magic 

New Zealand’s myriad native plants are riding a new wave of popularity. 

James Fraser takes a look at the diverse natural treasures of this unique 

island landscape. Photographs Sharon Pearson 

DICKSONIA SQUARROSA 

Probably the hardiest and most common of all 

the Kiwi tree ferns. Its relatively tough constitution 

and small stature make it ideal for home 

gardens and is better planted in groups. It is not 

fussy about soil and sends out rhizomes to 

form clumps. Tolerant of sun or shade, although 

if in full sun it is advisable to shade the roots. 

GI119_Plantprofile_2se.indd 32-33 20/9/06 10:27:59 am 

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IF YOU ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH to live in a cool and 

moist temperate zone, away from freezing winters, it is time 

you were introduced to a ‘New Wave’ of horticultural goodies 

from that Middle Earth of the Pacific, New Zealand. 

Cut loose by continental drift out there in the ‘Roaring 

Forties’, but with a kind latitude (the antipodes of the Iberian 

Peninsula) ‘the Land of the Long White Cloud’ became a 

sanctuary for flora and birds millions of years ago. Away from 

the attention and predation of mammals (the only one being 

a fruitarian bat), every order of the plant kingdom from 

primitive mosses, lichens, and tree ferns through to podocarps, 

alpines, flowering evergreens, epiphytes, and so on, 

coexisted in a cosy symbiosis with a huge collection of feathered 

friends – so cosy, in fact, that many species of birds 

forgot how to fly. 

I was introduced to the natural history of New Zealand as 

a cub scout, sent out on weekend ‘tramps’ where we were 

dropped into the bush to learn survival skills away from the 

comforts of home. As a ten-year-old I found the rugged landscape 

hard work and the rainforests dark, damp and more 

than a bit frightening. As my legs grew stronger and my bushcraft 

stuttered on the granny knot, I began to appreciate what 

a treasure trove of plant life existed beyond the man-made 

environment, the more remote the better. 

UNIQUE EVOLUTION 

The sweet aroma of a New Zealand rainforest is like nothing 

else in the whole wide world – if only we could bottle it. The 

previous horticultural dominion of my parents’ vegetable 

garden and compost heap, although satisfying, suddenly 

expanded into a beautiful and complex natural world of 

interdependent plant communities and habitats. Although 

this garden of Eden has been badly damaged by mankind’s 

intervention, there still exists a vitality within the changing 

landscape that draws in the plant lover. 

Over 200 million years of isolation was a bonus for the 

evolutionary journey of the Kiwi plant collection, shaped by a 

tempestuous climate. Like Ellen MacArthur in the southern 

oceans, the islands were battered by extremes of wind, sun, 

rain, ice and dry periods, but luckily escaped the catastrophe 

of the ice ages. Seed dispersal depended on birds, (berries) 

wind and water, with insects not so crucial, hence the general 

lack of big, bright, colourful flowers. Ancient survivors of 

Gondwanaland evolved with new species to create a heavenly 

cornucopia of plants from subtropical swamps to cold alpine 

screed. This influence of climate leads us gardeners to pick 

34 

James’s top 

plants list 

This list contains a range of plants 

across the spectrum, although I 

have avoided well-known genus 

and the more tender examples. 

I have also deliberately left off ferns, 

alpines and delicate groundcovers 

as they generally require more 

consideration and attention. When 

chosing a scheme, decide first 

where you want your small trees 

or vertical trunks for privacy, shelter, 

or upper layers and then work 

down from there, making the most 

of the wide range of foliage colour, 

texture and shape available. 

AGATHIS AUSTRALIS 

OR KAURI 

The grand daddy and biggest tree of the 

forest with a towering straight trunk that 

unfortunately was perfect for for boat 

building. Slow growing in the wild, its 

juvenile phase can last 50-100 years, 

taking some 30 years to reach 10m. 

Protect growing tip from frost damage. 

PSEUDOPANAX LESSONII 

‘SABRE’ 

A fantastic small tree growing to 5m 

in height, with a strong trunk and 

sparse deep green/red foliage on a 

candelabra of waving branches. Very 

good in windy and dry conditions. 

PSEUDOPANAX CRASSIFOLIUS 

OR LANCEWOOD 

Quintessential New Zealand plant 

with distinctive juvenile form that eventually 

grows into a round head up to 

5m tall. The young, long leaves droop 

down from a single stem to make a 

dramatic show, alone or in groups. 

Will happily grow in containers. 

UNCINIA RUBRA 

Commonly known as hook sedge 

as the seeds catch on to passing 

animals, it forms a low clump. 

The strong, dark-red colour of the 

leaves makes a good contrast but 

needs to be in a sunny spot for 

the best colour. U. uncinata is a 

close relative and a bigger plant, 

less fussy about sun or shade. 

PSEUDOPANAX LAETUS 

This has the biggest leaf, at 30cm 

long, and is the most multi-stemmed 

of all the lancewoods, making it 

ideal for a tropical look. Prolific 

green-white flowers matures to 

berries that are attractive to birdlife. 


Cultivation 

Good preparation is essential 

prior to planting. Generally 

speaking New Zealand flora 

prefers a cool, moist climate 

with growing periods in spring 

and autumn, slowing down in 

the summer. Hardiness 

depends on provenance to a 

large degree, although yearround 

good drainage and a 

good moisture-retentive soil is 

the golden rule. If very dry, 

double digging with compost is 

advisable, helping plants, particulary 

trees, get established and 

be more able to survive 

prolonged cold or hot periods. 

New Zealand does have some 

very dry habitats, while at the 

other end, mosses ferns and 

tree ferns like it very moist, but 

most New Zealand plants can 

take dry periods given the odd 

shower now and again. That’s 

why up until now in Europe 

they have been most 

successful in Cornwall and 

southern Ireland. The milder 

winters of recent decades have 

spread microclimates to a 

much wider area. 

If planting together I suggest 

installing an ‘edge’ around 

planting areas – like most evergreens 

they drop litter as they 

grow which provides humus. 

Make room for an occasional 

mulch, an essential maintenance 

item. There are no 

special feeding requirements 

other than normal amounts of 

an organic fertiliser at planting 

and the occasional top 

dressing. 


35

and choose from a wonderful selection of very user-friendly 

species with a variety of trunks, leaf colour, texture, shape 

and novelty appeal, and as there has been no grazing by 

animals the result is a soft, tactile multi-layered landscape. 

A good example of this is the divaricate form of many 

small trees and shrubs, where leaves and flowers are reduced 

on wiry stems that grow in tight right angles to resembles the 

effect of an electric shock. This is a defence against wind that 

in other lands could be manifested in the shape of sharp spines 

or thorns. Instead, in some species such as Muehlenbeckia, we 

end up with a soft mattress that invites you to curl up and 

have a snooze. Another example is the habit of many trees to 

grow as juveniles into an adult that is a completely different 

look, for example in its shape, leaf and trunks. The most 

peculiar of these is probably Pseudopanax or lancewood, 

particulary P. ferox and P. crassifolius. There is a popular theory 

that these evolved with long narrow lance-like leaves to avoid 

appearing on the menu of the moa, a massive ostrich-like 

bird that used to roam the forests until hunted into extinction 

by the native Maori. However, a more likely explanation 

is probably the climate. New Zealand is known to have gone 

through extended dry periods over its 200 million years of 

isolation and many evergreen species adapted accordingly. 

CLOSE TOGETHER 

This unique plant palette and subsequent travels among 

other habitats have been the chief inspiration for me in my 

career in working with plants. A large number of New 

Zealand flora answers many design questions, particulary in 

urban gardens where space is at a premium. It is possible to 

re-create a multi-layered scheme, with non-aggressive species 

that grow together. Using small trees (that are not going to be 

anti-social in years to come) as structural planting creates 

privacy and vertical interest, without the later agony of 

dealing with bigger brutes. They can be planted close together 

or spread out and placed as sentinels. Under this you can 

have interest at mid-canopy and at ground level. In general 

‘Kiwiana’ is much better planted together in groups to give a 

verdant core among which to dot perennials, biennials and 

grasses to create an inspiring landscape all year round. 

Climate change in the Northern hemisphere and the 

native plant boom in New Zealand have seen a much greater 

variety with new hybrids available. Possibly those wishing to 

create a sub-tropical look without the rampant vigour of 

‘jungle’ plants have most to gain. Victorian immigrants, such 

as Cordyline, Phormium and Hebe, are now being joined by 

HOHERIA POPULNEA OR 

LACEBARK 

A graceful tree with initial quick growth 

that slows down as it matures. The tree 

ends up at around 5m tall, making it 

perfect for screening and boundary 

planting. It is covered in starry white 

flowers in mid to late summer. 

PITTOSPORUM OBCORDATUM 

A very useful columnar divaricate, 

which provides good contrast with 

other vertical planting, for example 

with Pseudopanax species. Young 

stems have an appealing tan colour. 

PHORMIUM COOKIANUM 

‘TRICOLOR’ 

Included as a exception to the gentle 

community-minded, non-butch, non- 

variegated rule because it is a very 

tough cookie, which demands to be the 

centre of attention all on its own. It is 

ideal as a solitary specimen plant. With 

leather-like leaves that refuse to rot 

ASTELIA NERVOSA 

Similar to phormium but smaller and 

less aggressive and easier to grow than 

its more popular cousin, A. chathamica. 

Tolerant of shade and dry conditions, it 

provides architectural appeal in the 

understorey. Needs good drainage. 

Colour variation of new hybrids range 

from green through to red. 

SCHEFFLERA DIGITATA 

This spreading, shade lover is 

terrific at providing diagonal trunks 

among verticals from the background. 

Large leaves, flowers and 

berries are very good for the 

tropical look. Prefers damp and a 

sheltered position as leaves are 

prone to frost damage, although 

they will return the following spring. 

CHIONOCHLOA SP. 

As Kiwi grasses go I would take this 

genus over the more ubiquitous Carex 

any day of the week, especially C. rubra, 

C.flavicans and C. conspicua. It’s easy to 

grow and manageable. The tussocks are 

summer flowering but the panicles stay 

for a prolonged period. C. rubra has an 

attractive red hue in the winter. 


Pests and 

diseases 

Pests and diseases are no 

different from those suffered 

by other garden plants, 

although in late spring watch 

out for blooms of aphids, 

especially on Pseudopanax. 

The new growth is preceded 

by a protective jelly and this 

attracts the pest, distorting the 

leaves, which in turn are 

farmed by ants. While waiting 

for the hoverflies and ladybirds 

to catch up on keeping them 

down, it is advisable to gently 

wash them off. 

Recommended 

suppliers 

Trevena Cross Nurseries 

Breage, Helston, Cornwall 

TR13 9PS Tel 01736 763880, 

www.trevenacross.co.uk 

Hardy Exotics 

Gilly Lane, White Cross, 

Penzance, Cornwall TR20 8BZ 

Tel 01736 740660, 

www.hardyexotics.co.uk 

County Park Nursery 

Essex Gardens, Hornchurch, 

Essex RM11 3BH 

Tel 01708 445205, 

www.countyparknursery.co.uk 

Architectural Plants 

Nuthurst, Horsham, 

West Sussex RH13 6LH 

Tel 01403 891772, www. 

architecturalplants.co.uk 

Avant Gardener 

16 Winders Rd, London 

SW11 3HE 

Tel 0207 9784253, www. 

avantgardener.co.uk 

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GI119_Plantprofile_2se.indd 36-37 20/9/06 10:28:06 am

Pseudopanax, Astelia and Muehlenbeckia to gently soften 

the hard edges of modern life. For example, a planting 

plan for a typical New Zealand garden could look like this: 

Canopy boundaries and shelter: Agathis, Cordyline*, 

Hoheria*, Lophomyrtus*, Myrsine, Nothofagus, Pittosporum*, 

Pseudopanax*; Mid-level: Carpotedus, Coprosma, 

Cortaderia*, Corokia*, Dicksonia, Leptospernum*, 

Muehlenbeckhia, Olearia*, Pseudowintera, Rhopalostylis, 

Sophora*, Schefflera; Ground: Acaena*, Asplenium, Astelia*, 

Blechnum, Carex*, Chionochloa*, Coprosma, Hebe*, 

Libertia*, Muehlenbeckhia, Pimelea*, Scleranthus. 

Those marked with an asterisk have prominent flowers and/ 

or berries. 

PLANTING PLAN 

Any combination of the plants listed would provide a 

balanced community that can grow together without any one 

dominating the others. As the juvenile forms of the Agathis, 

Pseudopanax, Cordyline, etc turn into adults, the planting 

scheme develops a canopy punctuated by trunks that add 

muscle to a rather gentle soft canopy surrounding them. 

Watching them change adds drama to any garden, particularly 

in juxtaposition with the spreading divaricates. 

The variety of leaf colour offered by hybrids of 

Pittosporum and varieties of Lophomyrtus, Corokia and others 

is another attraction, although I generally avoid variegated 

hybrids preferring the muted tones and more dependable 

species, varieties propagated from true natives as opposed to 

in the laboratory. Indeed, checking the provenance of the 

parent material of your New Zealand specimens is worthwhile. 

Material from the bottom of the South Island will be hardier 

than that taken from the subtropics 1,200 miles further north 

and it is worth avoiding these. Some species also have many 

subspecies, an indication of pronounced regional differences 

of some varieties. A good example of this is Phormium tenax, 

which has in the range of 25 plus sub species. 

The Maori depended on this huge variety of plant material 

as food, medicine, fibre etc, engendering a spiritual bond 

and respect of plant life ruled by the laws of Tapu. Early 

missionaries sought to break this bond by encouraging 

massive burning and destruction of the forests. Thankfully 

the situation is now reversed and it is potentially very exciting 

to think that we are probably just scratching the surface of 

possible new plants from this Pacific outpost that we can 

plant in our own gardens. ■ 

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SOPHORA SP. 

A collection of small leguminous trees 

that are profuse and early flowering. 

They range from very cute divaricate 

forms such as S. prostrata to taller 

varieties such as S. tetraptera, which 

are very good against walls. 

MUEHLENBECKIA ASTONII 

This hardy divaricate shrub is a 

particular favourite of mine. Delightful 

heart-shaped leaves on wiry stems 

make for a good contrast in mixed 

planting. Native to my home town 

of ‘windy’ Wellington, where it grows 

on exposed hillsides, it tends to lose 

its foliage in the winter. 

CHIONOCHLOA RUBRA 

A sprawling version of M.astonii, but 

more vigorous, it can be used as a 

climber if given material to climb on. I 

tend to avoid using climbing plants as 

they interfere with the vertical trunks 

and require continual maintenance, but 

this is an exception. 

MYRSINE AQUILONIA 

A delightful graceful small tree with a 

larger leaf than most divaricates and a 

fan-like habi,t which is very useful in 

filling in the understorey where space is 

tight. Trunks and branches have an 

attractive white spotting that get better 

as the plant gets bigger. 

LOPHOMYRTUS SP 

A useful, compact, fluffy small 

tree that can add an attractive 

hue to any mixed planting scheme, 

especially the bronze and red 

hybrids, L. x ralphii. A profusion 

of summer flowers is followed 

by attractive berries. Can be 

pruned into a compact shape. 

MYRSINE AUSTRALIS 

Another good foliage plant with crinkled 

light green leaves on reddish 

branches. Happy in most situations. Like 

M. aquilonia flowers become attractive 

dark berries that stand out against the 

light foliage. It can also be trimmed to 

maintain a dense bushy shape. 


Further reading 

The Gardener’s Encyclopedia 

of New Zealand Native Plants 

Yvonne Cave and Valda 

Paddison (Timber Press, 2000) 

An essential reference book 

that includes modern hybrids 

with great photographs. 

The Native Trees of New 

Zealand and Native New 

Zealand Flowering Plants 

both by JT Salmon (Reed, 1997/ 

1991) A good reference to 

accompany the above by the 

godfather of NZ plant books. 

Includes his own photographs. 

Lifestyles of New Zealand 

Forest Plants and New 

Zealand Coast and Mountain 

Plants both by John Dawson 

and Rob Lucas,(Touchwood 

Books) Both out of print but 

secondhand copies may be 

available. A great introduction 

to how New Zealand plants 

grow together in their wild 

communities. 

Ecology and History in a 

New Zealand Landscape 

Geoff Park (Victoria University 

Press, 1995) 

A fascinating and absorbing 

personal look at the impact of 

Maori and European settlers 

on the New Zealand ecology. 


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Maori magic - avant gardener

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