Maori magic - avant gardener

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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. plant profile ● NEW ZEALAND PLANTS 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. GI119_Plantprofile_2se.indd 34-35 20/9/06 10:28:03 am 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. plant profile ● NEW ZEALAND PLANTS 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 36 37 GI119_Plantprofile_2se.indd 36-37 20/9/06 10:28:06 am
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