A Guide to Growing Native in KAPITI

CONTENTS Some local plants that remind us of our past . . . but also our future potential

2. Knowing Your Local Conditions Nikau thrive in moist, sheltered, frost-free sites. The shelter they need, however, is long gone from most 4. Dunelands areas. We see old nikau in open pasture because, being , they are simply very hard to kill. 8. Lowland Terraces For nikau to thrive and reproduce once more we must restore shelter - and in doing so we encourage kereru 9. The ‘Nikau Belt’ (NZ pigeon) to visit and spread their seed. 10. ‘Kamahi Country’ 11. Birds in Your Garden , a dominant tree in mild-climate forests 12. Gardening which receive year-round moisture, impresses with its winter flowering. In summer, large seed capsules develop that by early winter have split open to reveal 14. Pests orange fleshy seeds. The luxuriant flowering illustrated here is only possible where possums have been 15. Being Water-Wise eradicated. References

Pingao (illustrated) and spinifex are two native species adapted to life in the shifting foredunes where they help create smooth dune profiles. Destabilisation of dunes by pastoralism in the 19th century led to mass planting of marram grass and lupin which formed new dunes, but ones with erodable, steep profiles. To re- establish pingao now we need to control rabbits as well as marram. PAGE 2 Knowing Y Knowing Y Knowing Y free orthecombinationoflowsummer limiting factor, perhapstheareaisfrost- zone insomeway-perhapssaltisa They aredifferent fromtheirneighbouring which sharesimilarecologicalconditions. The zonesshownheredescribeareas Knowing Y Knowing Y our L our L our L our L our L oc oc oc oc oc al Conditions al Conditions al Conditions al Conditions al Conditions zone. You canalsorecogniselocal zone butwilldiffer fromaneighbouring spur vegetationwillbesimilarwithineach Thepatternsofplantsuccessionorvalley/ in summerdrought. rainfall andreadilydrainingsoilsresults you willbeabletorecognisewhereyour boundaries willbeblurredinreality-but We giveabriefoverviewofthezones.The even theweedsyou’llencounter). (and farmingpractices,gardenstylesand characteristics inwildlifecommunities reflect thenatural(native)localvegetation. suited tothelocalconditionsandwhich The followingpageslistplantswhichare consider whenyouplanyourplanting. the localcharacteristicsyoucould property fitsintothepicture,andsomeof damaging easterlygales. killers. Watch toofortheinfrequentbut rain towashsaltoffplantstheyreallycanbe westerly windsarestronganddry, sowithout dictate lifeinthedunelands.Manyof Salt, summerdroughtandwinterfrosts DUNELANDS (1) away. surface preventsheavyrainfall fromdraining swamps arecreated,orthe compacted expose thewater-table andsmalllakes places to thebeach,creatingswamps. Inother new duneshaveblockedtheflow ofstreams duneland, fortworeasons.Insomeplaces ecological interest.Water dominatesnatural dry areaswhichgivesthedunelandits effect ofpeatonloweringthepH. would treatdrydunes,butrememberthe ecological zone!Treat theseareasthewayyou and peatysandwhichcreatesawholenew housing, peathasbeenreplacedwithhardfill have beendrainedanddevelopedfor tolerant ones. species togrow, buttheyneedtobefrost- sheltered hollowsallowagreaterrangeof us ofwhatbushcouldhavegrown.Damp, kanuka, akeake,ngaioandtaupataremind capacity ifcleared.Scatteredgroupsof support forestgrowth,butquicklylosethat matter israpidlyleachedaway. Theycan thin soilswhichdrainreadilyandorganic are good. eating birdslikefinches,larksandsilvereyes prospects forinsect,seedandsmallfruit- for asuprisingarrayofinsects.Feeding Because frostsarelightorlacking,itishabitat taller growthpossibleinshelteredhollows. shrubland andgrasslandzone,withsome limited varietyofnativeplants.Thisisa The The inter-connectedness ofwaterthrough It isthepatchworkofcontrastingwetand Where peat-filledswampsbetweendunes Further inland, youngest dunes sand plains older stabledunes created bywindscouring haveaspecialisedbut have tawa overlarge-leaved understoreyspecies, tauhinu tomanuka thentokohekoheand rainfall. cover arepronetoerosion duringhigh of freedrainage.Slopeswithout vegetation where amildclimatecounteracts theeffects extends outacrossthelowlands inplaces coated inloess,althoughthisecologicalzone mostly weatheredclaysandstabilisedscrees salt windsnottobeaproblem.Soilsare enough shelterordistancefromtheseafor draining ofairthatreducesfrost).Thereis the mountainsandthereisaconstant the banksofrivers,orwhereriversissuefrom round, generallyfrostfree(especiallyalong This areahasamild,moistclimateyear- The ‘NIKAU BELT’ (3) shrubs tendtobesmall-leavedspecies. and havetoleratedgrazing.Smallertrees here -theycopewellwithseasonallydrysoils kohekohe arevisuallydominantnativetrees Totara, titokiand,wherethereisshelter, alluvial aquifersthatsupplymanyfarms. a mixedblessingaspollutantsdraininto that issimilartoadrought.Gooddrainage of thesiltsmaybeheavyinwinter;toaplant drain freely, oftendryingoutinsummer. Some the oldriverterracesaredeepandfertilebut of aninfluence.Thealluvialandsiltysoils experiences frostsbutwindandsalthaveless seasonal rainfall(drysummers)and Like thedunelandthiszonealsohasvery LOWLAND TERRACES(2) affect distantneighbours. discovered, whatwedotoonepropertycan mudfish, inanga).Asmanypeoplehave species andwater-fowl)fish(suchaseel, habitat forplants,birds(especiallycoastal drainage andsubsequentlossofswamp distribution ofpollutants,andforeffects the dunelandhashugeimplicationsfor successionhereprogresses from ecologically, fromotherzones inthearea. some uniquecharacteristicsthatseparateit, filled withdeep,fertile,glacialgravels,has where fourrivershavedown-cutintoabasin This extensivehill-surroundedvalleysystem, (5) REIKORANGI titoki andmahoe. the moretemperatespecieslikekohekohe, pittosporums, ngaioandkarakaalongwith we findleatheryleavedtreedaisies,hardy westerlies alongwithextremedrainage!So moist climate soils andmobilescreesreflectsboththemild, The vegetationonthesesteepslopesofthin ESCARPMENT (4) is around150-200metres. sheltered sites.Theupperlimitofthiszone conspicuous onsouth-facingcooland stands ofpurekohekohe.Tawa willbemore and youwillseemanysmooth-canopied often atanadvantageinaregeneratingforest, tawa issosensitivetoexposure,kohekohe dotted witholivecrownsoftawa.Because see inpocketstoday-afreshgreencanopy sites. Thisisthecharacteristicforestwestill with nikauandpukateainmoist,sheltered nuka pata KEY tothefollowingpages: rengarenga they giveplenty ofgardeningscope,anda reliable frameworktoworkwithin. area. Ouremphasis isonspeciesnativeto edge environment.Noattempt ismadetolist Note: thespecieslistedare ones thatshoulddowellinthemoderngardenorbush- Coprosma

Leptospe Ar and most gardensituations ( ( ( underlined unshaded shaded the effectofsalt-laden not detailedinthisbooklet ) knowntobelocalspecies,historically, andshould copewith ) notnativetothisarea,butsuitedthehabitatdescribed ) goodplantstouseas‘nursery crops’andforquickshelter this warbler), bellbirdandtui. kereru (NZpigeon),whitehead,riroriro(grey of forestwildlifesuchasruru(morepork), Properties nearbushwillenjoythespillover white maireoveratawacanopy. forest willcontainnorthernrata,rimuand rewarewa, fivefingerandtreeferns.Amature enough tolenditsnamethiszone), manuka andmovesontokamahi(abundant Forest successionstartswithtauhinuand rich inclimbersandtreeferns. understorey, withdisturbed bushparticularly common inthesecondgrowthandforest wineberry, fivefingerandlemonwoodare Large-leaved speciessuchasrangiora, conditions, butluxuriantforestgrowth. these oldweatheredsoilshascreatedacidic Year-round rainfallandcooltemperatureson ‘KAMAHI COUNTRY’(6) combined itwith‘KamahiCountry’. the purposesofgardening,however, wehave - onewithheavyfrostsandevensnow!For creates amountainenvironmentatlowlevels Cold airdrainingintothevalleyseffectively area, suitedto our conditions-wethink all species likelytohavegrown inthe

PAGE 3 PAGE 4 F F F concern. Sohowpeoplegardenhereis surviving, stabilisationisanongoing of Waikanae, althoughtheforedunesare shored upwithwallsandgroynes.North of dunestothesea.Theremnantsare however, wearegraduallylosingthatline Horowhenua. SouthofWaikanae, Foredunes runtheentirelengthofKapiti- F F oredune oredune oredune oredune oredune keeping thecontainer moist. hard seedsinthecentre andusethose, catch yourwhirlygig!Feelforplump, To germinatespinifexseeds,first wind increasesthedamage. -turbulent coastal erosionduringstorms It isnotjusttheactionofwavesthatcauses ❂ authorities! home gardeneraswellbylocal vegetation canoftenbeovercomebythe browse andstormeventsontheforedune The pressuresofhumantrampling,rabbit important fortheentireneighbourhood. Factors forgardenerstoconsider

The prevailingwest-to-north-westerlies wind canfilterthrough. vegetation orhavingpermeablefencingthat foredune bycontrollingtheheightof flowing smoothlyupthebeachandover Foreshore gardeners shouldaimtogetair make theturbulence,andwinderosion,worse. Solid fences,wallsandshelterbeltswillonly : it willbreakdownquicklyinthese material, youmustkeeponaddingit,for drain anddryrapidly. Ifyouaddorganic nutrient butwithoutorganiccontent,they occur. and thisiswhenmostsaltdamagecan drift inland.Therearesummerdroughts, are drying,saltyandensureconstantsand- NZ spinach horokaka, iceplant acerosa tataraheke, sandcoprosma sand sedge spinifex pingao soldanella nihinihi, shorebindweed seaward side(spreadingplants) ❂

Desmoschoenus spiralis Spinifex sericeus The dunesarenotonlylowin

Tetragonia trigyna Carex pumila Disphymaaustrale

(on moistsites) Calystegia Coprosma Design interest: problem here. conditions. which reflecttheunderlyinglandforms. suit massingtogetherininformalgroups colourful &texturallyinteresting.They whau akeake ngaio Eleocharis neozelandica mingimingi piripiri, bidibidi tauhinu, cottonwood taupata waiuatua, shorespurge sand coprosma autetaranga, sanddaphne complexa small leavedpohuehue in thelee Myoporum laetum Entelea arborescens Coprosmarepens Dodonaea viscosa Coprosma propinqua ❂

Frost shouldnotbea Acaena novae-zelandiae Coprosma acerosa Few species,but

Cassinia leptophylla Muehlenbeckia Euphorbia glauca Pimelea arenaria bulldozing, sosoilsmaybelessdeveloped zone andnotalltheduneshavesurvived our urbandevelopmentoccursinthis scouring wherethesoilisdamp.Muchof sandplains andhollowscreatedbywind- Between thedunesthereareoftenflat and theirsoilsmatureaccordingly. Dunes increaseinageasyoutravelinland puataua kaiwhiria, native jasmine Climbers ngutukaka, kakabeak rengarenga australis korokio tauhinu coastal treedaisy taupata Coprosma rigida mingimingi mingimingi Asplenium oblongifolium huruhuruwhenua, shiningspleenwort polyodon petako, sicklespleenwort Small plants&GroundCovers

Cassinia leptophylla Corokia cotoneaster Clematis forsteri Coprosma repens

Hibiscus trionum shrubland

Coprosmapropinqua

Cyathodesfasciculatus Arthropodium cirratum (tolerates dryconditions) Olearia solandri Parsonsia capsularis Clianthus puniceus

Asplenium groves of groves wind ❂ Factors forgardenerstoconsider: dry saltywinds. using hardierspeciesinsitesexposedto on matchingthedry/damppatternsand than expected.Successfulplantingrelies issue -althoughlesstothesouthwhere shelter forotherplants. resistant matai kaikomako mapou kowhai mahoe akiraho titoki* Trees -olderduneswithsoils.Asabove,plus: whau* rautini, ChathamIs.akeake taupata akeake kanuka ngaio Trees -onyoungerdunes&drysandplains planted ingroves

Use salt-resistantspeciestocreate

Alectryonexcelsus trees

Myoporum laetum

Prumnopitys taxifolia

Entelea arborescens Myrsine australis Dodonaea viscosa Sophora microphylla Kunzia ericoides Olearia paniculata Coprosma repens

Pennantia corymbosa larger to lee to larger -survivesbest ❂ Senecio huntii

Frostisan are frost-tender. frost. Plantslistedhaveanasteriskifthey air drainageoffthehillshelpsprevent rapidly. To recreatetheoldforestfertility sandy soilsorganicmatterwillbreakdown will helpplantsestablish. with aheavychip(thatwillnotblowaway) experiences summerdrought.Mulching shore fuchsia * rengarenga harakeke toetoe blue wheatgrass sand sedge Carex flagellifera libertia panakenake sand buttercup Gunnera arenaria shore pimpernel remuremu Moist sandplains&hollows-lowstature. frost resistantspeciesonmoistflats

Cortaderia toetoe Libertia perigrinans , swamp flax Selliera radicans Carex pumila Pratia angulata Arthropodium cirrhatum Ranunculusacaulis

Samolus repens Fuchsia procumbens Agropyron scabrum ❂ Phormiumtenax

The entirearea ❂ Inthese mahoe, kanuka Street trees Prunable hedges focal pointsinthislandscape. shaven formsthathavebecomekeyvisual left unpruned,haveattractive,wind- Design interest: with organiccompost. we needtoreplenishsoilsregularly kahikatea cabbage tree .andtallerspecies Corynocarpus laevigatus Dry Duneland Dry Dry Duneland Dry Dry Duneland Dry Dry Duneland Dry Dry Duneland Dry : karaka,akeake,ngaio, Cordyline australis :taupata, akeake,olearia pot plantoverseas. netting fence-andisapopular when grownalongawire - itevenmakesagreathedge M. complexa Muehlenbeckia plant pohuehueor that’s whereitsnative host abundant onthecoastbecause The copperbutterflyis Kanuka andakeake,if isaversatileplant grows densely.

PAGE 5 PAGE 6 Duneland Streams Duneland Duneland Streams Duneland Duneland Streams Duneland Duneland Streams Duneland Duneland Streams Duneland Ideal heightsforstreamsideplanting: 3m max. 6m max.

12m max. 12m SHADED AREA. the landscapebutmanyoftheirnatural ❂ sites. with dry, well-drainedsites,not‘wetfeet’ on theirbankswillbeoneswhichcope eroded banks.Plantssuitedtogrowing deep, meanderingchannelswithsteep, Streams

Theyactasvisualcorridorsthrough (1-2m) & Shrubs grasses in thedunelandaremostly (2-4m) trees Small (>4m) trees Large toetoe tree tutu odorata muakaro, scentedbroom koromiko ngaio kowhai Stream banks round. and nutrientwillbeconstantyear- deciduous vegetationasbothshading evergreen vegetationisbetterthan all mannerofstreamlife.Native, to theshadingandnutrientsupplyfor ❂ erosion alongthestreambanks. plants togrowwhichwillminimise away fromstreamedgesandtoallow argument forkeepingstockormowers on thespringtide.Thisisanother where saltwaterturnstofresh hundreds ofmetresfromthecoast, within streamsidegrassesandreeds ❂ restore vitalitytothosewaterways. vegetation. Ourplantingplansmayhelp have lostanystreamside(riparian) farm effluentandstormwater, andmost energy), theyaretreatedasdrainsfor speeds uptheirflowanderosional courses havebeenstraightened(which Inanga(adultwhitebait)spawn Overhanging vegetationcontributes

Myoporum laetum

Cortaderia toetoe Sophora microphylla Coriaria arborea Hebe stricta (poisonous fruit) Carmichaelia edges accordingtotheirtoleranceof and plantsgrowinzonesaroundthe generally haveamorestablewater-level, areas createdbyahighwater-table occasional level -suitedtoplantswhichtolerate drainage Swamps andpondscreatedbypoor cabbage tree toetoe Olearia virgata tenuicaulis hukihuki, swampcoprosma karamu manuka Damp raisedground(oroccasionalwaterlogging) koromiko Cortaderia toetoe Leptospermum scoparium Coprosma robusta willhaveafluctuatingwater or seasonalwaterlogging. Hebe stricta Cordyline australis var. atkinsonii Coprosma Wet topsoil orsandtoconditionthegarden. prove difficulttomanage.You couldadd ❂ Factors forgardenerstoconsider: contribution tolocalecology. swamps andpondsisapositive (and wildlifehabitatwithit)sorecreating water-logging. Muchwetlandhasbeenlost Carex virgata harakeke, swamp flax cabbage tree Damp edges&hollows Peaty soils,whendrained,shrinkand Cordyline australis Phormium tenax high nitrogenlevelsinseepageandrunoff. by ruralland.Plantsmayhelpfilterthe banks abovewetlandsthataresurrounded articulata Schoenoplectus validus for filteringgreywater-asare the pond.Theflipsideisraupogood high nutrientlevels-itwillsoonchoke ❂ Schoenoplectus validus kapungawha, lake clubrush raupo jointed wirerush,oioi wiwi, searush ustulatus upoko tangata,giantumbrella sedge Carex lessoniana Carex geminata pukio Wet edges

Avoid plantingraupoinpondswith Carex secta ❂

Giveprioritytoplanting Juncus maritimus Leptocarpus similis and Baumea Duneland W Duneland Duneland W Duneland Duneland W Duneland Duneland W Duneland Duneland W Duneland are twisted). (on coastalflaxtheyhangdownand year-round. Itsseedpodsare erect growing where thesoilisdamp swamp flax( But youwillfindlotsoflarge grows onwell-drained growing inthisarea asitcommonly You won’t findmuchcoastalflax coastal flax Swamp flax(harakeke) Phormium tenax are different species. Dabblers andswampbirdslike Small gesturesforlocalwildife etlands etlands etlands etlands etlands r ocky sites. and predator-free roosting vegetation; duckslike overlooking thewater Designing awetland? ) A stumpordeadtree is anaturalvantage pond canprovidea the shelterofover- hanging pond-side site forwaterfowl. a grassybankfor go alongway. An islandina for shagsand provide both. kingfishers. access -so

PAGE 7 PAGE 8 L L L which makeinterestinggardenplants. small-leaved anddivaricatingspecies understorey shrubsaremostlyhardy, has beenprotectedfromstock.The of kohekohe,titokiandmataiwherebush today isdominatedbytotara,withgroves growth onthefree-draininglowlands The characterofremnantpatchesnative L L wheki ponga, silvertreefern hounds tongue tarawera, buttonfern panako, threadfern bulbiferum manamana, hen&chicken Asplenium oblongifolium huruhuruwhenua, shiningspleenwort Ferns (allprefersemi-shade) owland terraces owland owland terraces owland owland terraces owland owland terraces owland owland terraces owland

Dicksonia squarrosa Phymatasorus pustulatus Blechnum filiforme

Pellaea rotundifolia Cyathea dealbata Asplenium drying windsandsummerdrought,plus ❂ Factors forgardenerstoconsider: to buildavisuallysympatheticgarden. giving residentsa‘framework’onwhich plays adominantroleinthelandscape, horticulture andgrazing,nativevegetation Even thoughthisareaisdevotedto not kaiku, NZjasmine Climbers Clematis foetida climbing fuchsia perforata akatea, smallwhiterata puataua

The combinationofgooddrainage, P. capsularis Clematis forsteri (yellow flowers) which prefersdrierhabitat

Fuchsia perscandens Parsonsia heterophylla - asterisk iffrost-tenderwhenyoung. providing shelter!Plantslistedhavean shelter. So,firstly, concentrateon range ofplantsthatwilldowellwithout in winteranddrysummer, reducesthe frost -ortheclay-richsiltsthatareheavy kawakawa maydowellinsitesthatare so tenderplantsliketreefernsand banks oflargerstreamswillbefrost-free shade) wind grass Carex solandri coastal peka awaka raupeka bush rocklily mikoikoi, NZiris ground) Hydrocotyle novae-zealandiae crassifolia stiff stemmedcoprosma Coprosma rhamnoides thin-leaved coprosma odorata muakoro, scentedbroom toetoe koromiko Small plants&groundcovers Cortaderia toetoe Earinaautumnalis

Hebe stricta Anamanthele lessoniana Earinamucronata

Astelia banksii(partshade)

Arthropodium candidum Libertia ixioides Coprosma aereolata var Coprosma Carmichaelia . atkinsonii (moist, shaded (orchid) (orchid) (semi-

The kaikomako Street trees Prunable hedges: crowns -thisisa‘soft’landscape. patches ofnativetreeshaverounded the alluviallowlandscenery. Theremnant Design interest: not exposedtowind. Small trees mahoe kawakawa kowhai mapou kaikomako wineberry poataniwha kohuhu wharangi manuka totara kohekohe titoki* Big trees matai

,

Podocarpus totara Alectryon excelsus

whiteywood Prumnopitys taxifolia Myrsine australis

Sophora microphylla Pittosporum tenuifolium

Leptospermum scoparium Melicope ternata

Macropiper excelsum Aristotelia serrata Melicope simplex base ofyourtrees! don’t digaroundthe clearly helpsifyou underground butit years cicadapupastay certain howmany No-one knowsfor spectabile Pennantia corymbosa : titoki,totara,mahoe, Stonewallsarepartof

Melicytus ramiflorus kohuhu, mapou -goodindrysites remind usofthepotentiallushnessthis near EmeraldGlenorinNikauReserve) thrive in.Fragments ofmatureforest(seen like tawaandnikaufindthehumiditythey growing environment.With shelter, trees nutritious soilscreateamild,productive year-round soilmoistureandreasonably The combinationoflowfrostfrequency, wheki hounds tongue tarawera, buttonfern panako, threadfern Asplenium oblongifolium huruhuruwhenua, shiningspleenwort Ferns

Dicksonia squarrosa Phymatosorus pustulatus Pellaea rotundifolia Blechnum filiforme ❂ Factors forgardenerstoconsider possum browsingoftheremnants. pressures oflowlanddevelopmentand areas rapidlydisappearingthrough growth stands-atreeofmoist,coastal for thedensityofkohekoheinsecond environment. Today thezoneisimportant kohia, NZpassionvine paniculata puawananga, bushclematis rata vine akatea, pinkratavine NZ jasmine Climbers

Tawa needsthehumiditythatgood baueriana

Metrosideros fulgens Parsonsia heterophylla Passiflora tetrandra ssp

Clematis banksii : require adraft-free,shadysite make attractivegardenplants)also exposed towind,andjuveniles(which shelter provides.Maturetreesmaydieif

plantings. appreciatecontinuous foothills.They’ll down intothelowlandsfromTararua gardens areavitallinkforbirdsmoving koromiko raupeka panakenake turutu, NZblueberry mikoikoi, NZiris ligustrifolium hangehange poroporo koromiko maukoro, scentedbroom flagelliformis maukoro, whipbroom Small Plants&GroundCovers peka awaka

Earina autumnalis Hebe parviflora Solanum aviculare Hebe stricta (shade) Geniostoma rupestre Earinamucronata Pratia angulata

Libertia ixioides Dianella nigra

Carmichaelia var Carmichaelia odorata . atkinsonii (orchid) (orchid) var ❂ . your turepo Street trees: poroporo hedges Prunable around buildings. on asmallerscalewithlowvegetation into thelandforms-thiscanbemimicked Sizeable clustersoftreestendtonestle hangehange thegreatestcontributors. kohekohe, mahoe,kawakawaand here isadistinctivefreshgreen,with titoki’s olivegreencrowns,thepalette Design interest heterophyllus turepo, smallleavedmilktree tawa titoki rewarewa cabbage tree kohekohe Big trees karamu manuka Small trees rangiora nikau lemonwood kanono kohuhu (moist sites) kotukutuku pigeonwood mahoe kawakawa lacebark wineberry wharangi The ‘Nika The The ‘Nika The The ‘Nika The The ‘Nika The The ‘Nika The Beilschmedia tawa

Rhophalostyis sapida Alectryon excelsus Melicytus ramiflorus Coprosma robusta Leptospermum scoparium Hoheria sexstylosa

Brachyglottis repanda Coprosma grandifolia Pittosporum tenuifolium

Melicope ternata

, Macropiper excelsum Aristotelia serrata tree fuchsia

Dysoxylum spectabile Pittosporum eugenioides Cordyline australis Hedycarya arborea Kohekohe,titoki, lacebark, : Apartfromtawaand : Lemonwood,kohuhu, Fuchsia excorticata u’ Bel u’ u’ Bel u’ -(shelter) u’ Bel u’ u’ Bel u’ u’ Bel u’ (understorey) Streblus t t t t t

PAGE 9 ‘Kamahi’ Country

On the foothills behind the lowlands, or particular) kamahi is a showy specimen and cool nights that mean young plants the most of flowering trees and vines. ❂ in the Reikorangi Basin, there is plenty of tree with a rich supply of nectar for birds. in particular require good shelter. a Prunable hedges: large-leaved year-round rainfall. As a result the soils Rata vines, passionvine, clematis and common complaint along disturbed bush coprosmas are deeply weathered, leached and supplejack contribute colour and bird edges is the tree disease Armillaria which Street trees: Northern rata, kamahi, somewhat acidic. First manuka, and then food to the garden. will spread to new plantings, so remove kaikomako kamahi dominates the regenerating bush. Factors for gardeners to consider: infected wood where possible. Like many other hill country trees ❂ although there is great variety of plant Design interest: flowering interest in (rewarewa, northern rata and heketara in types and forms possible, beware of frost natives comes into its own up here - make

Big trees rimu white maire Nestegis lanceolata tawa - needs shelter rewarewa Knightia excelsa northern rata miro Prumnopitys ferruginea Overseas, many beetles fly to escape animals which eat Small trees raukaua, five finger Pseudopanax them. Here, there were so few Small Plants & Ground Covers anomalus animals many beetles stopped everlasting daisy Helichrysum bellidioides Climbers kanono Coprosma grandifolia flying. They grew big and Nertera depressa (damp ground) kaiku, NZ jasmine Parsonsia heterophylla horoeka, lancewood Pseudopanax heavy. When humans brought Lagenifera pumila akatea, pink rata vine Metrosideros diffusa crassifolius rats to NZ most of these giant turutu, NZ blueberry Dianella nigra rata vine Metrosideros fulgens pate Schefflera digitata hangehange Geniostoma rupestre var. rangiora Brachyglottis repanda beetles were eaten out. This puawananga, bush clematis Clematis ligustrifolium paniculata mahoe, whiteywood Melicytus ramiflorus one is the HUHU beetle. karamu Coprosma robusta kohia, NZ passionvine Passiflora tetrandra kaikomako Pennantia corymbosa tutu Coriaria arborea Ferns putaputaweta Carpodetus serratus Coprosma rhamnoides kiokio Blechnum novae-zelandiae pigeonwood Hedycarya arborea koromiko Hebe stricta hounds tongue Phymatosorus pustulatus kamahi hunangamoho Chionochloa conspicua (a piupiu, crown fern Blechnum discolor heketara, tree daisy Olearia rani tussock) kotate, soft tree fern Cyathea smithii kotukutuku, tree fuchsia Fuchsia excorticata Cortaderia fulvida (a small toetoe) mamaku Cyathea medullaris broadleaf Griselinia littoralis mikoikoi, NZ iris Libertia ixioides ponga, silver tree fern Cyathea dealbata kawakawa Macropiper excelsum winika Dendrobium cunninghamii (orchid) wheki Dicksonia squarrosa forest cabbage tree Cordyline banksii BIRDS in YOUR GARDEN & BUGS !

What does your garden offer a bird? flowers are available throughout the . . . and butterflies and moths and There is a big ecological difference year, but they eat fruits also, and tui show worms . . . one of the features of the between gardens with numerous birds a preference for native fruits (especially insect fauna is that so (especially starlings, sparrows and podocarps) over exotic species. many species are dependant upon a blackbirds) and gardens with a great The main fruit and foliage eaters (NZ particular plant for part of their life variety of birds. The latter reflects the pigeons, starlings, silver-eyes) are useful cycle - perhaps all of it. range of feeding opportunities the for distributing plants around, especially Having a diversity of native plants in gardens offer, as well as safe roosting and the pigeon which can swallow the really your garden is good for this reason big fruits - but it works both ways. These nesting places. alone. Whiteheads or popokatea are Most of our garden birds are ones which birds also transport your garden species Over half our native bugs evolved in endemic to the . have recently immigrated from countries fruits back into the bush where we don’t forest situations but with so much These noisy birds move in already full of predators (so the birds necessarily want them. forest cleared their options are limited. flocks, eating insects off forest have learnt defensive behaviour). This Finches, larks, sparrows feed mostly on A small corner of your garden that is trees. They rarely fly in the includes ‘natives’ like fantails and tits that grass seeds and small insects in the open. allowed to stay dank, still and open, but may be tempted into gardens along bush margins by came from long before humans, Your garden might also provide for water undisturbed is precious habitat for our the fruits of hangehange, but recently enough to still have native insects. birds that feed on invertebrates, fish and putaputaweta, mahoe or rimu. Australian traits. foliage. Swamp and pond birds like Our endemic birds don’t have those pukeko, ducks, scaups etc. need privacy survival skills ingrained: they can’t share and shelter. Shags, kingfishers appreciate gardens with cats, dogs, rats and even perches beside the water. magpies except on brief feeding visits. And don’t be in too much of a rush to So you could reduce the number of bird- fell that old dead tree - it could become killers for a start. home for your local morepork (as long Most birds have a preferred diet (and a as you eradicate the possums first). way of seeking it) although most show So you can see that every garden is a a burst of interest in protein around potential food source for birds at any breeding time. They might primarily time of year. What our native birds need be insect eaters hawking on the wing is not food so much as habitat where they (fantails), feeding in ground litter can breed and roost free from predation, (blackbirds, thrushes, tits), feeding nest disturbance and competition from from inside tree canopies (riroriro, aggressive immigrant species. Some of whiteheads) or from the outer crown the shyer ones will appreciate linkages of trees and bushes (silver-eyes, between gardens (perhaps an avenue starlings). of street trees?) so that they need not Nectar eaters, like tui, bellbird and fly in the open. silver-eyes, will seek out whatever GARDENING Introduced Are You a Gardener? The New Landscape species NATIVE Protecting Natural gone wild SPECIES (2068) (2000) Remnants Whether you plant a shelter belt or a Where once there was 15 metres height

herbaceous border you’re deciding what of luxuriant growth producing its own plants will do best in that location - that’s nutrients and microclimate, and What’s important? at the heart of gardening. Add a dash of perhaps a metre of organic soil below ❂ fencing - to let palatable plants and imagination and sensitivity to your this, now there is more likely to be seedlings grow, and to reduce surroundings to those practical 10cm of grass on a soil dependent on trampling damage; decisions and you’re on the way to being fertilisation. ❂ a garden designer as well. Where once the wind blew across a sealing the bush edges from wind to Although the range of native plants never tightly woven, wind-resistant coastal Introduced create the cool, humid microclimate species that many interior forest plants need. seems as broad as the selection of shrubland of uniform height, now it is in gardens exotics, your native garden can be just more likely to swirl turbulently around (16,900) Use low stature, fast growing plants as satisfying and interesting. Plus, it’s a hedges, houses and solitary Dept.of Conservation such as taupata or manuka in coastal haven for all those insects which prefer macrocarpas. areas; karamu or mahoe on the or rely on native species for their welfare. The waterways are rich in nutrient from Biodiversity is not simply a numbers lowlands; poroporo, karamu or game: increasing the number of plant rural run-off, most swamps are drained, kohuhu in the foothills and in the hill Elegant plantings of Carex provide good habitat species in the country does not for stream life and help absorb flood waters. their peat soils shrunken or replaced necessarily improve biodiversity if it’s at country. If there are tawa in the stand, with hardfill. the expense of the native flora. plant a taller shelter belt to minimise So, what plants will suit these new The diagram suggests that ‘windows of wind exposure to their crowns (use situations? Will the natives once present opportunity’ are now more likely to be salt resistant species like kohekohe filled by an imported species than by a survive today? Here are some tips: and kaikomako in the lowlands); native species. So, gardening with ❂ near the coast, accept that you are in natives is rather like an insurance policy ❂ retaining the natural water table and a shrubland zone - the only native trees for our native flora. soil moisture patterns in the vicinity. likely to thrive there are the resilient Kahikatea is particularly vulnerable to coastal trees ngaio, karaka, akeake, drainage; kohekohe or taupata which will quickly old wetlands. ❂ controlling weed and animal pests. resprout if damaged by salt or wind. ❂ on fertile river terraces and open Rats and possums prevent fruiting and Concentrate on smoothing the flow of spaces (especially well drained areas) seedling growth. See p.16 for advice; wind (mass planting of same-age plants deep-rooted trees or tiny-leaved shrubs helps). Avoid plants with large, soft, have the best tolerance to stresses. ❂ limiting access. Make a path, but only non-shiny . Take particular care ❂ in inland areas once forested: see one, especially where neighbours with young plants (mulch and water share a natural remnant. You can’t well). what grows around the edges of forest remnants and plant those species expect great seedling growth where ❂ once a wetland plant, always a (shrubs, vines, hardy ferns), or have a kids play or everyone has a track to wetland plant, so they should survive look at a regenerating scrub area and their favourite spot; in the ‘new landscape’. But now they plant those species: they can withstand ❂ stock nibbling over the fence? Plant have a modern role to play - purifying exposure. Plant in groups, and add species they don’t like - ngaio, rangiora water and providing shade for wildlife ‘internal’ bush remnant species later and poroporo for example. in streams. Concentrate on riparian when there is shelter. planting and restoring the water to Or Simply Gardening Where Can You Source Specialist Native Tips For Getting The Native Plants? Plant Stockists Best Results Choosing to garden with natives is a personal preference, but look at some of the reasons why people enjoy doing One of the features of lowland Kapiti- Talisman Nursery Starting from scratch? On bare land your Horowhenua is that so little natural worst enemies are the drying wind, it: Ringawhata Road vegetation remains. Without the ability weeds that appreciate your disturbance ❂ if they use species already proven & Otaki of the soil and hungry rabbits. suited to the locality they’ll get to go out and collect seed we rely on neighbours and specialist plant nurseries optimum growth and minimum Dense planting is advised, to provide to stock our gardens. maintenance Otaihanga Nurseries cool cover for tender roots as quickly as possible and to suppress weeds. You can ❂ they appreciate the character of Try, where you can, to use plants bred 117 Otaihanga Road thin growth later. natural landscape around them - that from local stock. Eco-sourcing is quite Paraparaumu valid. Although people will point out ‘sense of place’ A mulch will have the same effect, but that birds carry seeds long distances, a could blow away in exposed coastal ❂ their sense of garden design overrides Gus Evans Nurseries great number of plant species have fruits gardens unless you pin it down with any reluctance about planting eaten by small birds or geckos which 12 Utauta Street netting or fibrous mat. ‘common’ or ‘scrubby’ species. don’t have big ranges, or perhaps the Waikanae ‘Nursery’ crops are a good idea for ❂ they are aware that there are specific seeds are wind distributed. The plants large planting programmes, to provide plant host-insect relationships which don’t get widely distributed at all. quick shelter from the wind. Start with they can nurture (and have gardens Naturally Native The same goes for pollination, so some native adventives (the first plants to full of native butterflies, cicada and 30 Gammon Mill Road plants are relatively ‘incestuous’ and establish quickly after disturbance, such moths) develop local traits that often give plants Tauranga as taupata in the duneland, manuka or ❂ they want to re-create and improve tolerance to local stressful conditions. karamu elsewhere) and a year or two habitat for wildlife (especially Matatoa Trees and Shrubs later interplant with other species. With important in the wetlands) Many gardeners experience difficulty P.O.Box 31 time, you can thin or remove the ❂ it gives them a buzz nurturing & getting the pure species of manuka and ‘nursery’ plants. A useful exotic species protecting vulnerable and unusual Engles Road kanuka established. It is possible that the to use like this is tree lucerne. native species Shannon seedlings develop best with soil fungi ❂ it provides plants ideal for weaving present. Try adding Trichoderma (available and dying, for symbolic uses and for from garden suppliers) to the planting hole, Plantwise using in flower arrangements or a handful of soil taken from under Summit Road ❂ they know they’re contributing to New established groves of manuka, and use Lower Hutt Zealand’s biodiversity (and preventing locally sourced seedlings. outsiders using windows of opportunity to take over). Did you Taupo Native Plant Nursery look at the pie diagram on the previous P.O.Box 437 page? Taupo PAGE 14 Ea Ea Ea PESTS Ea Ea ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ Protect plantswith ❂ ❂ ❂ Control methodsinclude partial tohebe,coprosmaandaciphylla. to shootthem.Notethatrabbitsseem take poisonreadilysothebestoptionis protect newplantings.Hareswillnot to eradicatethem are commonininlandruralareas.Itpays especially inthesandcountry, and Rabbits netting Exclusion fencingmadeof chicken around youngplants Tyres, nettingorplasticsleevesplaced painted ontofoliage Acrylic paint+eggpowderrepellent foliage Oxblood, inliquidform,paintedonto shoot neardwellings. so warnyourneighboursbeforeyou arm soastoannoyorfrightenanyone, It isalsoanoffencetodischargeafire carry aloadedfirearmonanyvehicle. areas. Rememberitisanoffenceto anticoagulant poison) burrows Shooting isonlypermissibleinrural Pindone cerealrabbitpellets(an Magtoxin tabletsforfumigating ting Y ting Y ting Y ting Y ting Y are amajorpestforgardeners our Garden our Garden our Garden our Garden our Garden : before : planting or hares ❂ Control methodsinclude of usareaware. of seedstoagreaterdegreethanmost andmice Rats ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ Control methodsinclude State Highway1. Possum (a lengthofdrainpipedoesthetrick). Bait stationsusingTalon 50WBpellets Shooting (seepreviousnotes) to disposeofthepossumyourself! Live trapping.Asabove-butyouhave or dates. cones. Baitwithfruitandcinnamon and theyloveripeningmalepine tree fuchsia,five-finger, kohekohe- Possum favourites include coprosma, Timms trapssetnearpalatabletrees. effectiveness). response, sopulseforcost or Pindone pellets(delayedkill Bait stationsusingTalon 20Ppellets numbers arehighinlandof preventthegermination : : T T T T T flowering gardenspecimens. thinking theyareattractivefruitingor gardeners mightunwittinglyspread particular concerninKapitithat blackberry butthereareotherweedsof We arefamiliarwithweedslikegorseand Treatment in duneland. Erect, thornyshrubwithredfruit,active Boxthorn leaves and black fruit,activein Yellow-flowering shrubwithfleshy Boneseed discarded branchescanresprout. mixture. Orripoutmanually. NB to groundlevelwithdiesel/Grazon aking OverY aking OverY aking OverY aking OverY aking OverY : Sprayregrowthaftercutting our P our P our P our P our P a a a a a t t t t t Treatment duneland. Treatment threes). Fluffyseedheads. in fives(nativeclematishave leavesin and inlandareas.Leavesare arranged A smotheringclematis,on lowlands Old Man’sBeard Roundup, Gallant. Treatment sites likedunesandalongriverbeds. shavings. Concentratedindisturbed their deadleavesspirallikepencil but theyflowerlateinsummerand Two speciesoftallgrass,liketoetoe, Pampas ch ch ch ch ch : Roundup,Escort : Roundup,Escort. : Sprayafterfloweringwith rhizomes andtubers. Treatment and denserhizomatourrootsystem. “Tropical’ leaves,yellowflowerspires (Both KahiliandYellow Ginger) Wild Ginger winter/spring andsprayregrowth. Treatment riverbeds. active infrost-free‘NikauBelt’and flower andyellowpulpyfruit.Most Vigorous climberwithgreen/pink Banana Passionfruit : Digupanddisposeofall : Roundup.Cutbackin UsingHerbicides floods. branches moveddownstreamduring streamside planting,willresproutfrom Crack willow particular problemaroundReikorangi. and shadeoutotherplants.Itisa Sycamore ground ifgrazingstockareremoved. seedlings willproliferateinopen circumstances change. problems whentheiroriginal Some gardenandfarmtreesbecome contacted on04-5264133. Plant SectioninUpperHuttcanbe by Wellington RegionalCouncil.TheirPest area refertothedetailedliteratureprovided For afulllistofpestplantsintheWellington of seepageintowaterways. not useherbicideswherethereisarisk targetting onlytheproblemplants.Do At alltimesbeasspecificpossible, can establishinnativebush , oncepopularfor Macrocarpa Add water-retainingcrystalstopots BEING WATER-WISE useage whensuppliesarelow: precautions totakeminimisewater- there areothercommon-sense neighbourhood anditsstresses,but species adaptedtotheclimateofyour This guideshouldhelpyouplant water beyondsupply! summers usuallystretchdemandfor levels andonborewater. Asweknow, supply reliesonrainfallmaintainingriver Kapiti Districtdoesnotstorewater. Its planting can reduce thissubstantially. is directedat gardens. Wiseuseandwise Nearly onethirdofKapiti’s watersupply Use timers,moisturemeters,directional sprinklers andhosetriggersaswaysof minimise evaporation Water lateintheeveningto And afteryou’vewatered. Soak, don’tsprinkle controlling waterwastage Put yourwashingmachinerinse Water theroots,notleaves water offyourroof collect garden water tankto Install arain- water togooduse! mulch shore spurge hibiscus and,inthecentre,milkyleavesof silvery combinationofspinifexwiththenorthern (above) prostratengaioandpingao,(below)a crisis byusingnaturallyresilientseasidespecies: Two coastalgardens whichhavesolvedthewater Euphorbia glauca .

PAGE 15 PAGE 16 side ofcoastalhouses. perfectly suitedtothatdifficult,shadysouth vine fromtheThreeKingsIslands,are (right) therengarengalilyand grows bestoncoarsesandorfineshingle; (centre) theshorespurge ingredients: pingao,coastalflaxandngaio (left) Thiscolourfuldunegardenuseslocal Euphorbia glauca Tecomanthe , a ; or asabird-friendlyhedge. Try themespallieredagainstasunny wall them idealnurseryplantsorgap fillers. tolerate awiderangeofconditions makes ‘grow everywhere’,yetthisability to scorn asagardenplantbecausethey and taupataaresometimestreatedwith large-leaved coprosmassuchaskaramu putaputaweta ( flavicans tussock naturalistic grassyclearing,usingsilver edge gardenisdesignedtoevokea great foodsourceforfinches;thisbush- are idealgrassesfordifficultspotsanda provided bykamahiseedheads;toetoe deck wherethebackgroundcolouris vines, inthiscase Clockwise: Bush-edgegardenscanbeshow-casesforourflowering (Poa cita) (flowering) andjuvenile Carpodetus serratus Metrosideros fulgens , Chionochloa ); the ; Carex flagellifera graces a

PAGE 17 References

The Native Garden: Design Themes BOFFA from Wild New Zealand Isobel MISKELL Gabites & Rob Lucas 1998; Godwit. planning design ecology Gardening with New Zealand P.O.Box 11 442 Plants, Shrubs and Trees Muriel E. 3rd Floor, 111 Dixon Street Wellington, New Zealand Fisher, E. Satchell, Janet M. Watkins Tel: 64 4 385 9315 1970; Collins. Fax: 64 4 384 3089

The Cultivation of New Zealand Plants Lawrie Metcalfe 1993; Godwit.

Native Forest Restoration; A Practical Guide for Landowners Tim Porteous 1993. Queen Elizabeth the Second National Trust.

The QuickFind Guide to Growing Native Plants Andrew Crowe. Viking. Boffa Miskell encourages design and restoration projects which reflect the spirit of our natural places. We are pleased to support this guide and help Kapiti put these principles into practice. The Wellington Regional Plant Guide Wellington Regional Council.

Nga Manu Nature Reserve in Waikanae has native plants labelled in their natural habitat.