Te whakatō tipu whakapaipai ngahere Forest enrichment planting

Diverse and abundant and Today only 5% of Wellington’s original animals once cloaked the Wellington lowland broadleaf-podocarp forest and landscape from hilltops to sea. 1% of original coastal forest remains. Northern rātā was a common sight These remnants provide sanctuary for emerging through the canopy along the surviving native birds and insects with rimu, mataī, kahikatea, pukatea and are an important seed source for and tōtara. Below them stood a dense forest restoration and planting. cover of tawa, , kāmahi, In the remaining old forest remnants, titoki, hīnau and kōwhai. The forest like Otari-Wilton’s Bush and the Botanic interiors were thick with climbers like Garden, the range of native plants and and supplejack, and the forest animals present is much diminished floor carpeted with ferns. Tieke, piopio, from what it once was. robin, kokako, stitchbird, banded rail, kiwi, weka, kererū, kākā and huia Council, community groups and would have called through the trees landowners throughout the city are and tuatara would have scurried in and working hard to re-establish a wider out of sea bird burrows feasting range of species in the regenerating on eggs. forests to bring back some of the rarer species that are special to Wellington. A history of logging, burn-off, clearance Planting a wider range of species for farming and development, and in regenerating forests is known as planting of macrocarpa and pines ‘enrichment planting’. Enrichment has resulted in a substantial loss of planting can both increase biodiversity Wellington's forests over time. as well as start to provide for more complex ecological relationships between plants and animals. Wellington City Council

Nōhanga Habitat

Typically, the structure of Wellington forests would have looked similar to the diagram below. Otari–Wilton’s Bush is one of the few areas where this structure remains, including a rich abundance of ferns and grasses covering the ground. The composition of the species changes depending on aspect, whether it is a valley floor or hillside, elevation, and whether the canopy is dominated by māhoe, tawa or kohekohe as well as proximity to the sea.

Tawa dominated canopy with typical gully species Broadleaf- podocarp forest structure

Emergent trees

Kahikatea Tōtara Pukatea

Northern Canopy Rimu Rātā layer Rewarewa Miro Kamahi Mataī Tawa

Hīnau Sub-canopy Kānuka Pigeon Understorey Wood layers Māhoe

Coprosma Seedlings and litter layer

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Te whakatō tipu Planting

“Get to know and understand the whole ecosystem you are working in. It’s not just about getting plants in the ground, it’s about looking at ecological relationships, mix of species, pollination, habitat for rare species - all the things that mean a forest can sustain itself. Check out old photos, The aim of enrichment planting It is necessary to species visit the old remnant is to re-establish a more natural where there is no, or limited, composition of native plants by seed source close by. For species forests, talk to or join reintroducing absent species and where seed source exists, you other planting groups, increasing the number of species can help the natural process of through a site or local area. bird and wind seed dispersal or look for books and by controlling weeds to reduce Your site should already have shelter science papers that competition for space, light and from existing native shrubs and nutrients. Dropping seed into describe what the trees, and weeds and animal pests suitable locations may be all that is should be well managed so that forests used to look required to establish some species. young planted and regenerating like. Make a plan and seedlings can survive. There will As plants establish and start to likely be seedlings already naturally produce seed and the conditions stage your planting regenerating on the forest floor and for natural seed germination and over several years to a range of microclimates throughout seedling establishment improve, the site. If your site does not have the natural forest structure get the right mix of adequate shelter, check out other will gradually redevelop. Seed shelter and species.” sections for earlier stage planting, dispersers, like tūī, kererū and eg Restoration planting on inland kākā, will move from area to Joakim, Miramar hillsides, valleys and basins. area feeding and introducing other native species. Usually, enrichment planting does not require close spacing of plants – in fact, it is better to distribute the plants more widely within existing plantings. Look for suitable microsites and (Above) Bush rice think about the conditions that grass, establishing well on the the plants naturally prefer. forest floor.

57 Wellington City Council Te papa ngahere me ngā momo tipu kei raro iho i te kāuru o te ngahere Forest floor, understorey and sub-canopy species

The forest floor includes a wide range of mosses, ferns, grasses, Tips for planting and ground covers and leaf litter restoring forest floor, dropped from taller canopy plants. understorey and sub- It is generally a shady and moist canopy species environment that provides the Control weeds such as Wandering conditions needed for native willie so that native seeds and fern seeds to germinate and grow. spore can germinate and grow A wider range of forest floor, without being smothered. Weed understorey and sub-canopy around young naturally regenerating shrubs can be planted once there is seedlings as well as planted seedlings. a canopy of taller trees providing shelter and lower light levels. Plant in between naturally regenerating seedlings. Plant in groups of about 3 plants in a triangular pattern so they shelter can each other. Mix species up so you don’t have a monoculture.

Plant ground covers, herbs and ferns at around 0.5 metre spacings. Plant shrubs and smaller plants at around 0.1 metre spacings.

Ferns are notoriously hard to grow but will naturally colonise bank and rock faces in damp shady situations. Try making small vertical cuts into sloping ground in suitably damp, shady places on your site to (Above, right) Ferns encourage fern development. Lay and seedlings fertile fronds from fern and tree colonising the damp ferns onto damp surfaces; hold them understorey on the valley floor in place with something heavy. (Right) Microsorum Once the canopy has reached a scandens with ripe height that can be walked under, spores - try pinning spore-laden fern fronds try establishing some of the wind spore side down, on the and frost tender species such as forest floor. Check first kawakawa or hangehange. to make sure the spore is ripe

Ferns often colonise Wind-blown banks and rock spores faces in damp, shady situations; spores are blown onto these faces. Try making small vertical cuts into sloping ground in suitably damp, shady places on your site to encourage fern development.

58 Restoration planting sites

Plant list for forest floor, understorey and sub-canopy species

Enhancement forest planting – forest floor, understorey and subcanopy Planting site Life form Plant preferences & tolerances Abundance

Māori/ Botanical Forest Under- Sub Life form Soil Light Frost Wind Common name name floor storey canopy moisture levels tolerant tolerant needs

Microlaena Grass, Bush rice grass Semi-moist Shade Exposed avenacea • 0.4m ++

Fine-leaved Sedge, Semi- Carex banksiana Semi-moist Exposed hook sedge • 0.5m shade +

Sedge, Semi Forest sedge Carex dissita Semi-moist Exposed • 0.5m shade ++

Carex Sedge, Semi- Trip-me-up Semi-moist flagellifera • 0.4m shade ++

Geniostoma ligustrifolium Shrub to Semi- Frost Hangehange Semi-moist var. • 2 m shade tender ++ ligustrifolium

Kamu / Hook Sedge, Semi- Carex uncinata Semi-moist Exposed grass • 0.4m shade ++

Kakaha / Bush Flax-like Semi- Astelia fragrans Semi-moist Exposed flax • herb, 1m shade +

Semi Coprosma Kanono Shrub Semi moist shade Exposed grandifolia •• +++ to sun

Shrub/ Semi- Frost Kawakawa Piper excelsum Semi-moist Exposed • small tree shade tender +++

Lowland Pseudowintera Small tree, Semi Semi moist When Exposed horopito axillaris • 7m shade + mature

Māhoe / Melicytus Semi moist Semi Tree to 5m When Moderate Whitey wood ramiflorus • to dry shade ++ mature

Sedge, Māpere / Razor Gahnia setifolia flowers to Dry Sun Moderate sedge • + 3m

Flax-like Mīkoikoi / New Libertia Semi- shrub, Semi-moist Zealand iris grandifolia • shade ++ 0.7m

Flax-like Mīkoikoi/ New Semi- Libertia ixioides shrub, Semi-moist Zealand iris • shade + 0.7m

+ use sparingly ++ use commonly +++ use plentifully yes • categorised

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Plant list for forest floor, understorey and sub-canopy species (cont.)

Enhancement forest planting – forest floor, understorey and subcanopy Planting site Life form Plant preferences & tolerances Abundance

Māori/ Botanical Forest Under- Sub Life form Soil Light Frost Wind Common name name floor storey canopy moisture levels tolerant tolerant needs

Semi Porokaiwhiri, Hedycarya Tree to 8m Semi moist shade to When Moderate pigeonwood arborea • +++ sun mature

Carpodetus Moist to Putaputawētā Tree to 5m Shade When Moderate serratus • semi moist ++ mature

Lophomrytus Moist to Ramarama Tree to 5m Shade When Moderate bullata • semi moist ++ mature

Round-leaved Coprosma Shrub 2 – Semi Semi moist When Moderate coprosma rotundifolia • 4m shade ++ mature

Sedge, Semi- Speckled sedge Carex testacea Semi-moist • 0.4m shade ++

Semi Thin-leaved Coprosma Shrub to Semi moist shade to coprosma areolata • 3m ++ sun

Tussock- Tūrutu / NZ Semi- Dianella nigra like herb, Semi-moist Moderate blueberry • shade +++ up to 0.5m

+ use sparingly ++ use commonly +++ use plentifully yes • categorised

60 Restoration planting sites Te kāuru o te ngahere me ngā rākau teitei e tipu tonu ana Canopy and emergent tall trees

The forest floor includes a wide range of mosses, ferns, grasses, ground covers and leaf litter dropped from taller canopy plants. It is generally a shady and moist environment that provides the conditions needed for native seeds to germinate and grow. A wider range of forest floor, understorey and sub-canopy shrubs can be planted once there is a canopy of taller trees providing shelter and lower light levels.

Rimu growing in small light well.

Tips for planting and restoring forest floor, understorey and sub-canopy species

Rimu naturally comes up through light Kahikatea can be planted in open pockets in the forest created when situations but needs a reasonable large trees fall over and tawa favours amount of soil moisture. moist sites under a established canopy. Pukatea needs a moist environment, Consequently, both these species shelter and protection from frosts. struggle in an open environment. They need shelter and grow better If you have a closed canopy and a very on the edge of a stand of trees where shady environment, cut small light wells they are protected from frost and for emergent trees that need light, eg strong drying winds. They also need rimu. Make sure to maintain the light reasonable soil that holds enough wells and do regular weed control in moisture over the summer season. the area until the new seedling is well established and starting to emerge Tōtara and Northern rātā can be planted through the surrounding growth. in open situations alongside the early- stage restoration plant species and Emergent trees take up a lot of space tolerate more exposed, north-facing sites. in a forest, so can be planted at wider spacings, around 5 metres, depending on the site and the mix of species present.

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Plant list for canopy and emergent trees

Enhancement planting – Canopy and emergent trees Life form Plant preferences & tolerances Habitat Comments

Māori/ Botanical Life form Soil Light levels Frost Wind Common name moisture tolerant tolerant name needs

Dry to Olearia rani Small tree, Coastal to inland White flowers Aug to Heketara Semi- Semi-shade When var. colorata up to 6m forests, dry hillsides Nov attract bees. moist mature

Hillsides in Fleshy fruits attracts Elaeocarpus Canopy tree, Semi- Hīnau Semi-shade When established canopy, kererū, tūī, tītapu. dentatus 20m moist mature fertile soil Flowers attract bees.

Two stages of growth, Horoeka/ Pseudopanax Small tree to Semi Semi shade Coastal to inland juvenile lance to lancewood crassifolius 8m moist to sun forest, hillsides a round topped tree, attractive to birds.

Kahikatea / Dacrycarpus Emergent, up Moist to Valley floors and Fleshy fruit attracts and Semi-shade When White pine dacrydioides to 50m wet lower hillslopes is dispersed by birds. mature

Pennantia Small tree, up Semi- Sun to Coastal to inland Black fruit Jan to Apr Kaikōmako When corymbosa to 8m moist semi-shade forests attracts Korimako. mature

Well drained steep Flowers Dec to Jan attract Weinmannia Canopy tree Semi- Kāmahi Semi-shade When hillsides, sea level to birds and bees. Easily racemosa up to 25m moist mature montane grown from seed.

Large glossy leaves. Canopy tree, Semi- Coastal to inland Kohekohe Semi-shade When Sheltered Flowers and fruit attract spectabile 15m moist hillsides mature birds in winter.

Moist Locally rare species. Maire/ Black Nestegis Canopy tree Gully, plant within to Semi Semi shade When Sheltered Fruit Dec to May attracts maire cunninghamii up to 20m established canopy moist mature kererū.

Maire rauiki Semi- Red fruit attractive to Nestegis Canopy tree Hillsides among / White moist to Semi-shade When Sheltered birds, especially kererū. lanceolata up to 20m existing canopy maire dry mature Easily grown from seed.

Nationally threatened Maire Szygium Canopy tree Moist- Sun to Swamp to very wet When Sheltered species. Susceptible to tawake maire up to 16m wet shade valley floors mature myrtle rust.

Emergent Prumnopytis Semi- Lowland valleys and Black fruit, attractive Mataī tree up to Semi-shade When Sheltered taxifolia moist hillslopes to birds. 20m mature

Emergent Grow in a wide range Prumnopytis Semi- Red plum-like fruit Nov to Miro tree up to Semi-shade When Sheltered of sites, valley floor ferruginea moist Apr, attractive to kererū. 25m mature to hilltops

+ use sparingly ++ use commonly +++ use plentifully yes • categorised

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Plant list for canopy and emergent trees (cont.)

Enhancement planting – Canopy and emergent trees Life form Plant preferences & tolerances Habitat Comments

Māori/ Botanical Life form Soil Light Frost Wind Common name moisture levels tolerant tolerant name needs

Palm-like Rhopalostylis Semi- Lowland valleys Nīkau tree up to Semi-shade When Sheltered Attracts birds and bees. sapida moist and gullies 15m mature

Unusual divaricating Tolerates a wide Elaeocarpus Canopy tree Dry to Sun to semi phase, flowers only Pōkākā When range of conditions, hookerianus to 15m moist shade occasionally, can be up to mature dry hillsides 8 years apart, locally rare.

Laurelia Valley floor and Canopy tree Moist to Prefers damp sites. Has Pukatea novae – Semi-shade When Sheltered shaded gullies, deep up to 30m wet buttress trunk. zealandiae mature moist soil

Attractive to possums, Rātā/ Dry to Hillsides, coastal to Metrosideros Emergent Sun to nationally threatened. Northern Semi- When inland. Epiphytic as robusta 25-40m semi-shade Attracts bees Nov to Jan. rātā moist mature well as terrestrial Grows from fresh seed.

Rewarewa Dry to Fruits Oct to Jan, attracts Knightia Emergent, up Dry well drained / NZ Semi- Semi-shade When Sheltered nectar feeders and bees. excelsa to 30m hillslopes honeysuckle moist mature Grown from fresh seed.

Moist Locally rare species. Raukaua Tree up to Raukawa to Semi Semi shade When Sheltered Inland hillslopes Susceptible to possum, edgerleyi 12m moist mature goat, rat browsing.

Tolerates a range Semi- of conditions, Dacrydium Emergent, Fleshy fruit Mar to May Rimu moist to Semi-shade When Sheltered preference for deep cupressinum 35-50m attracts birds and bees. moist mature fertile soil, sheltered position

Coastal to inland Purple plum-like fruit Beilschmiedia Canopy tree, Semi- Tawa Shade When Sheltered forest, hillsides and attracts kererū. Easily tawa up to 24m moist mature valleys grown from fresh seed.

Dry to Coastal to lowland Red fleshy fruit attracts Alectryon Tree, up to Titoki semi- Semi-shade When Moderate forest, valley floor birds and bees. Grown excelsus 15m moist mature to hillsides from fresh seed.

Moist Locally rare species, Myrsine Toro Tree to 10m to semi shade When Sheltered Lowland forests valley floors and moist salicina moist mature hillsides.

Tolerates dry Podocarpus Semi- Fruit takes a year to ripen, Emergent, Sun to conditions, prefers Tōtara totara var. moist to When attract birds Apr/ May. 15-30m semi-shade fertile soil, lowland totara dry mature Grown from fresh seed. to hillslopes

Dry to Rare species. Susceptible Tūrepo/ Streblus Tree up to Sun to semi Coastal forest semi- When Sheltered to possum, goat, rat Milk tree heterophyllus 12m shade to inland moist mature browsing.

+ use sparingly ++ use commonly +++ use plentifully yes • categorised 63 Wellington City Council

Ngā tipu kaipiki me ngā tipu pipiri Climbers and epiphytes

Kaihua and kōhia are commonly Epiphytes provide habitat for found throughout established and insects, bats, frogs, geckos and regenerating forest areas around birds and some epiphytes rely on Wellington but intervention is the large nesting clumps of Astelias needed to broaden the distribution to grow such as tāwhiri karo. of some of the lesser known Many species of epiphytic plants climbers. Most climbers like to are difficult to grow and will arrive be planted with their roots in the naturally over time. Hīnau, rimu cool shade and require something and many of the larger emergent to scramble on or climb up so trees all host epiphytes and they can grow into the canopy climbers. Finding hollows in trees, and get their tops into the sun. rotting logs or rock crevices can A small light well can be cut to provide places for these plants to encourage initial growth. grow but some species will also Epiphytes or perching plants are successfully grow on the forest floor. found growing on another plant but aren’t parasitic. Epiphytes rely on the surrounding environment for moisture and nutrients, high up in a canopy tree they receive more light than on the forest floor.

Puawhānanga are Tāwhiri karo “planted” often seen in early into a tree hollow. spring, flowering in the canopy

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Plant list for climbers and epiphytes

Enhancement forest planting – climbers and epiphytes Planting site Life form Plant preferences & tolerances Abundance

Māori/ Botanical Climber Epiptyte Life form Soil moisture Light Frost Wind Common name name needs levels tolerant tolerant

Epiphytic Semi Dry to semi Frost Akapuka Griselinia lucida shrub or shade to Exposed • moist tender ++ small tree sun

Nest Dry to semi- Semi Frost Kahakaha Astelia hastata Moderate • epiphyte moist shade tender +

Kaihua / NZ Parsonsia Dense Semi- Semi-moist Moderate jasmine heterophylla • climber shade +++

Kareao / Ripogonum Frost Woody vine Semi-moist Shade Supplejack scandens • tender ++

Freycinetia Vigorous Semi moist Semi Kiekie banksii • climber to moist shade ++

Dense Kōhia / NZ Passiflora bushy Semi-moist Sun Moderate passionfruit tetranda • +++ climber

Nest Dry to semi- Semi Frost Kōwharawhara Astelia solandri Moderate • epiphyte moist shade tender +

Puawhānanga Scrambling / Small white Clematis forsteri Semi-moist Sun Moderate • climber + clematis

Puawhānanga / Clematis Woody vine Semi- Semi-moist Moderate White clematis paniculata • up to 12m shade +

Prickly, Tātarāmoa / Semi- Rubus cissoides scrambling Semi-moist Bush lawyer • shade + vine

Pittosporum Epiphytic Semi Tāwhiri karo Semi moist Moderate cornifolium • shrub 2.5m shade +

+ use sparingly ++ use commonly +++ use plentifully yes • categorised

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