Urban ecosystems.

Titoki

Alectryon excelsus, commonly known as the titoki, makes an attractive specimen tree. The tree grows to a height of 10m and a trunk up to 60cm thick. The titoki is densely covered in khaki green coloured, tooth shaped leaves on thin twigs.

<

Habitat:
–––––––––--
Suits temperate conditions.

Sunlight:
–––––––––--
Prefers full sun

Application:
–––––––––--
Use in revegetation and single specimen amenity planting.

Size:
–––––––––--
Mature: diameter 4m x height 10m
Planting centres: 5m+

>

Kahikatea, white pine

Dacrycarpus dacrydioides, commonly known as kahikatea, is found in forests of both the North Islands and the South Islands, usually in swampy areas. Kahikatea is our tallest native tree, towering as high as 65m. It can be accommodated in a large garden, making an attractive specimen tree growing to about 9m after 20 years. Juvenile trees have drooping needle-like foliage with a bronze tinge, while on adult trees the leaves are dark green compressed scales.

Small oblong pollen-bearing cones are carried on male trees, and in autumn female trees bear the seeds on small bright red fruit, which are appealing to native birds. Kahikatea appreciates some shade when young. It is an excellent choice for swampy areas, being quite happy with wet feet. Propagation by seed or cuttings.

<

Habitat:
–––––––––--
Suits temperate conditions.
Suits lowland forest conditions.
Suits wet conditions.

Sunlight:
–––––––––--
Prefers full sun.

Application:
–––––––––--
Use in single specimen amenity plantings.
Use in revegetation plantings.

Size:
–––––––––--
Mature: diameter 10m x height 30m+
Planting centres: 5m

>

Rewarewa, NZ honeysuckle

Knightia excelsa commonly known as rewarewa is a striking tree species that grows in forest throughout the North Island and northern tip of the South Island. It produces a mass of red grevillia like scarlet red flowers during spring and summer. The tree grows up to 30m in height with a trunk up to 1m in diameter. The leaves are stiff and serrated.

<

Habitat:
–––––––––--
Suits temperate conditions.
Suits coastal conditions.
Suits montane conditions

Sunlight:
–––––––––--
Prefers full sun.

Application:
–––––––––--
Use in revegetation plantings.
Use in single specimen landscape plantings.

Size:
–––––––––--
Mature: diameter 5m x height 20m
Planting centres: 3m

>

Pohutukawa, NZ Christmas tree

Metrosideros excelsa, commonly known as pohutukawa, seems to epitomise the New Zealand summer lifestyle, conjuring up pictures of sunny sandy beaches overhung with the ‘Christmas tree’s’ spreading branches atop splendid gnarled trunks. Pohutukawa is very much a tree of coastal areas, where it is often seen clinging to barren cliffs .

Flowers cover the tree in early summer, ranging from vivid red to crimson in colour, and the nectar produced in cups at the base of the flowers is a favourite with birds. Before opening, the tight buds are grey and felted in appearance. The young leaves are soft and light green, with white tomentum beneath, before becoming dark green and leathery.

Pohutukawa can grow to 15m or more but will retain a moderate height with shrubbery growth for many years. It is an extremely tough tree tolerant of salt laden winds, so is an excellent choice for coastal planting, dry sunny places, and in poor soil. Young plants can suffer frost damage.

Pohutukawa can be pruned for hedging or to contain its size. In recent years opossums have decimated pohutukawa, and project crimson is a planting and protection programme inspired by the department of conservation and aimed at preserving this very special tree.

<

Habitat:
–––––––––--
Suits temperate conditions
Suits coastal conditions

Sunlight:
–––––––––--
Prefers semi shade.

Application:
–––––––––--
Use in single specimen amenity planting
Use in revegetation planting

Size:
–––––––––--
Mature: diameter 10m x height 12m+
Planting centres: 3m

>

Kowhai, large-leaved kowhai

Sophora tetraptera, commonly known as the kowhai, is found naturally in the North Island along riverbanks and forest margins from the East Cape to the Ruahine Range. It is slightly taller than S.microphylla and has longer leaves with bigger leaflets. It does not have a divaricating juvenile stage.

The golden yellow flowers appear in spring, and flowering commences at a younger age than S.microphylla. A popular plant known as S.tetraptera ‘Gnome’ is no longer considered to be a cultivar of the New Zealand kowhai but of a species from Lord Howe Island.

<

Habitat:
–––––––––--
Suits temperate conditions.
Suits coastal conditions.
Suits alpine conditions.

Sunlight:
–––––––––--
Prefers full sun.

Application:
–––––––––--
Use in single specimen amenity plantings.
Use in revegetation plantings.

Size:
–––––––––--
Mature: diameter 3m x height 6m
Planting centres: 3m+

>

Puriri

Vitex lucens, commonly known as puriri, grows from the Far North to Taranaki. It grows into a massive tree with large dark green glossy leaves. It is loaded with bright red berries from the autumn into the winter. The tree will grow to 20m in height x 20m in diameter. The trunk can grow to 1.5m in diameter.

The timber is dark grey/black coloured and is very hard. The berries are a great attracter to native birds such as the kereru (wood pigeon). Vitex is excellent for reforestation and as a specimen tree.

<

Habitat:
–––––––––--
Suits temperate conditions.
Suits coastal conditions.

Sunlight:
–––––––––--
Prefers full sun.

Application:
–––––––––--
Use in single specimen landscape plantings.
Use in revegetation planting.

Size:
–––––––––--
Mature: diameter 12m x height 15m+
Planting centres: 5m+

>