 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 3 - 4 weeks Pricking out: 4 - 6 months after sowing Tips: easy |
Mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus, hinahina, whitey wood), so named for its flowering and fruiting directly from the branches (ramilflory), is an abundant small tree found throughout the country and is the largest of 11 native species. This is a primary coloniser and most likely to be the bright, light green you see emerging above the gorse and scrub in newly regenerating land. It can however reach a height of up to 15 meters and support significant epiphyte communities. The dark purple berries are loved by birds and geckos and the dye from them was sometimes used in traditional Maori tattoos.
The soft wood makes it a favoured species for burrowing insects like our North Island endemic pururi moth (Aenetus virescens) lavae. Mahoe also has its very own mahoe moth, Feredaria graminosa which can sometimes seriously defoliate the trees.
Mahoe seed can be put in the fridge for cool moist stratification (CMS) for 2 - 4 months if sowing immediately is not possible but it does seem to slow down the germination.
The soft wood makes it a favoured species for burrowing insects like our North Island endemic pururi moth (Aenetus virescens) lavae. Mahoe also has its very own mahoe moth, Feredaria graminosa which can sometimes seriously defoliate the trees.
Mahoe seed can be put in the fridge for cool moist stratification (CMS) for 2 - 4 months if sowing immediately is not possible but it does seem to slow down the germination.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 7 - 8 months or more Pricking out: 16 - 20 months after sowing Tips: slow germination, slow growth |
Melicope is a genus of about 230 shrub and tree species but only two are found here. M. simplex (poataniwha) is widespread throughout the country and more common around Wellington than M. ternata (April post). It’s not quite so easy to spot as it assumes its place amongst a sizable suite of "small leaved shrubs" but when in fruit, there is no mistaking it as the pods and seeds are an identical miniature version of M. ternata. Another distinguishing feature is the flattened leaf stalk attached by a joint to the leaf.
Like M. ternata, this species takes a while to germinate though I admit I haven’t tried different pre treatments to see if this time can be shortened. Given the seed type, hot water treatment would be worth a try.
Like M. ternata, this species takes a while to germinate though I admit I haven’t tried different pre treatments to see if this time can be shortened. Given the seed type, hot water treatment would be worth a try.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: 1 - 3 months CMS Germination: 4 - 7 weeks Pricking out: 2 - 3 months after sowing Tips: easy |
Makomako, wineberry (Aristotelia serrata) is one of the fastest growing and most reliable restoration trees due to its tolerance for almost any situation. New Zealand natives aren't known for their colourful flowers but the spring display of makomako is really pretty with clusters of white through pink to dark red flowers whose form makes the relationship to hinau obvious.
The almost black berries once used for both jelly and wine making, are also loved by birds and the colour contrast against the fairly pale leaves means they are easy for them to spot so good luck beating them to it ! Each fruit has multiple seeds though so you don't need many for a good crop.
The almost black berries once used for both jelly and wine making, are also loved by birds and the colour contrast against the fairly pale leaves means they are easy for them to spot so good luck beating them to it ! Each fruit has multiple seeds though so you don't need many for a good crop.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: hot water scarify or CMS 1 - 3 months Germination: erratic ! I have records ranging between 4 and 32 weeks for this one Pricking out: 12 - 18 months after sowing Tips: can damp off if overwatered when seedlings are very small. Protect from birds |
Dianella nigra (turutu, New Zealand blueberry, inkberry) is in the same family as flaxes, aloes and day lilies. There are about 40 species in the genus spread around the globe, many are Australian natives, Aotearoa has three. Turutu is clump forming looking a bit like a small flax and grows in a variety of situations. It does well in dryish shade which can be a difficult niche to fill and is widely used as a landscape plant for its sprays of small white flowers followed by striking vivid blue berries which really are the star of the show. Despite the name NZ blueberry, this plant is NOT edible !
Despite appearing as though it's one of those 'tough as old boots' types, the early life of Dianella is somewhat unpredictable. The seed is certainly hardy as germination time seems unaffected by storage or treatment but once it's up it's surprisingly vulnerable, damping off easily, VERY attractive to birds who astonish me with their knack of 'sniffing' out a lone seed tray amongst all the rest ! It's a slow grower early on and is most successful when left to toughen up a bit before tubing to mitigate the damping off issue so though it's worth the wait, don't expect quick results with this one !
Despite appearing as though it's one of those 'tough as old boots' types, the early life of Dianella is somewhat unpredictable. The seed is certainly hardy as germination time seems unaffected by storage or treatment but once it's up it's surprisingly vulnerable, damping off easily, VERY attractive to birds who astonish me with their knack of 'sniffing' out a lone seed tray amongst all the rest ! It's a slow grower early on and is most successful when left to toughen up a bit before tubing to mitigate the damping off issue so though it's worth the wait, don't expect quick results with this one !
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 3 - 4 weeks Pricking out: 2 - 4 months after sowing Tips: easy |
Microlaena avenacea (bush rice grass, oat grass) is a graceful grass common along shady track edges in bush understory. It's the perfect plant for filling in dry shade and large groups make a really eye catching display. Microlaena is a small genus of only five species, four of which are native. This grass is much underrated and its really quick and easy so give it a go!
 | Propagate Pre treatment: hot water scarify Germination: 6 - 10 weeks but can take longer Pricking out: 2.5 - 3 months after sowing Tips: easy |
Common broom (Carmichaelia australis), as its name suggests, is the most common native member of this genus found all over the country in almost every habitat. It’s one of 23 endemic species, the majority occurring in the eastern South Island, and it’s the only native broom you're likely to see around central Wellington. After a revision of the group about 20 years ago, several separate genera were subsumed into Carmichaelia and 12 species into C. australis highlighting its incredible variability.
The most interesting feature of this group is their lack of leaves. Modified stems known as cladodes or phylloclades take on the photosynthetic function usually performed by leaves. Celery pines (Phyllocladus) are another group whose leaves are modified stems. The seed pods remain on the plant as the sides of the pods fall away leaving the bright orange seeds dangling within the outline. Like all legumes, Carmichaelia has hard, long lasting seeds that germinate far more readily after a soak in hot water. See December post for flowering.
The most interesting feature of this group is their lack of leaves. Modified stems known as cladodes or phylloclades take on the photosynthetic function usually performed by leaves. Celery pines (Phyllocladus) are another group whose leaves are modified stems. The seed pods remain on the plant as the sides of the pods fall away leaving the bright orange seeds dangling within the outline. Like all legumes, Carmichaelia has hard, long lasting seeds that germinate far more readily after a soak in hot water. See December post for flowering.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 2 - 6 weeks Pricking out: 4 months after sowing Tips: easy |
Ficinia nodosa (wiwi, knobby club rush, ethel sedge) is another top restoration plant for its toughness and range of habitat tolerances. Found commonly in sandy areas, it will also grow in wet estuarine habitats and in clay. This is a back dune species for restoration purposes and remnants far inland and up into the hills on the south coast are an indication of where it occured in Wellington before encroaching development disrupted its former range.
Wiwi is native to Australia and New Zealand and though its round stems make it look like a rush, its actually a leafless sedge so shares the Cyperaceae family with all the other sedges including Carex. The relationship between Ficinia nodosa and Ficinia spiralis (pingao) has long been under scrutiny and both have had several name changes. The most significant was pingao moving from Desmoschoenus (formerly an endemic genus), to join Ficinia a widespread genus of mostly South African members.
Wiwi is native to Australia and New Zealand and though its round stems make it look like a rush, its actually a leafless sedge so shares the Cyperaceae family with all the other sedges including Carex. The relationship between Ficinia nodosa and Ficinia spiralis (pingao) has long been under scrutiny and both have had several name changes. The most significant was pingao moving from Desmoschoenus (formerly an endemic genus), to join Ficinia a widespread genus of mostly South African members.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 3 - 6 weeks Pricking out: 2.5 - 5 months after sowing Tips: easy |
Carex is a huge genus of up to 2000 species, over 100 of which are native to New Zealand though several exotic species are just as at home here. Many are useful in restoration of wetlands; C. geminata, C. lessoniana, C. secta, C. virgata; forest understory and scrub; C. flagellifera, C. dissita, C. uncinata, C. banksiana; and coast, C. pumila (Jan post).
Carex secta (purei, pukio) is found in wetlands throughout the country and once mature, develops a trunk of old rhizomes, roots and flower stem bases that can attain a height of up to a meter ! The seed head is loosely branched (hence the species name meaning 'much divided') and drooping, and seeds fall very easily from the stem when ripe. Like many grasses and sedges this is a very fast grower and though it is most at home in wet environments it can tolerate the dry surprisingly well.
Carex secta (purei, pukio) is found in wetlands throughout the country and once mature, develops a trunk of old rhizomes, roots and flower stem bases that can attain a height of up to a meter ! The seed head is loosely branched (hence the species name meaning 'much divided') and drooping, and seeds fall very easily from the stem when ripe. Like many grasses and sedges this is a very fast grower and though it is most at home in wet environments it can tolerate the dry surprisingly well.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 6 weeks Pricking out: 4 - 7 months after sowing Tips: easy |
Though slightly slower growing, Carex virgata (swamp sedge, pukio, toitoi, toetoe) is very similar to C. secta and they can be difficult to tell apart when not in flower. It inhabits similar situations and can also form a trunk though it never reaches the height of C. secta. Once in flower C. virgata is easy to spot by its rigid, upright stalks with flowers/seeds spiralling around the stem. When I first learnt this plant I would think "virgata in a vortex" to remember how to ID it.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: CMS 2 - 3 months Germination: 2 - 7 weeks Pricking out: 4 - 7 months after sowing Tips: prone to damping off |
The hardiness and attractive shiny leaves of Coprosma repens (taupata, looking glass plant, mirror plant) have resulted in dozens of colourful cultivars being bred from it. This plant whose species name means 'creeping' can grow just as happily clinging to a barren salt-sprayed rock stack as it can as a coastal forest canopy tree up to 8 mtrs tall. This adaptability has led to its classification as an environmental weed in parts of Australia.
Here in Wellington we should be thankful for any plant that stands steadfast in the brunt of a southerly gale with its feet in desert-dry soil! Coastal areas are difficult sites to restore for obvious reasons so the usefulness of this plant can not be understated. It's quick to germinate and grow but like all Coprosma species is prone to damping off when young so avoid keeping it too damp and ensure as much air flow as possible.
Here in Wellington we should be thankful for any plant that stands steadfast in the brunt of a southerly gale with its feet in desert-dry soil! Coastal areas are difficult sites to restore for obvious reasons so the usefulness of this plant can not be understated. It's quick to germinate and grow but like all Coprosma species is prone to damping off when young so avoid keeping it too damp and ensure as much air flow as possible.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: CMS 2 - 3 months Germination: 2 - 9 weeks Pricking out: 2.5 - 6.5 months after sowing Tips: likely to produce at least a few hybrids in the batch |
Coprosma propinqua var. propinqua (mingimingi) is a very common endemic shrub widespread throughout New Zealand in a wide range of habitats. In Wellington it is common all around the coast and on exposed cliffs and hills where it is often wind-sculpted into dense low mounding forms virtually impenetrable to browsing herbivores. In more sheltered habitats though it can grow to a 6 mtr tree. The leaves vary in shape and fruit colour can range from translucent with faint blue speckles to blue or pale yellow.
When growing in association with other Coprosma species it hybridisies readily resulting in a medium leaved shrub. Unlike many hybrid offspring that are sterile, C. lucida x C. propinqua var propinqua (referred to as Coprosma x cunninghamii) can be extremely fertile producing further hybrid forms. Mingimingi (confusingly also the Maori name for Leucopogon, Leptecophylla and Muehlenbeckia astonii) is also one of the few hosts favoured by the native mistletoe, Ileostylus micranthus.
When growing in association with other Coprosma species it hybridisies readily resulting in a medium leaved shrub. Unlike many hybrid offspring that are sterile, C. lucida x C. propinqua var propinqua (referred to as Coprosma x cunninghamii) can be extremely fertile producing further hybrid forms. Mingimingi (confusingly also the Maori name for Leucopogon, Leptecophylla and Muehlenbeckia astonii) is also one of the few hosts favoured by the native mistletoe, Ileostylus micranthus.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 2 - 5 weeks Pricking out: 2 - 3 months after sowing Tips: very easy |
The family that New Zealand jasmine (Parsonsia heterophylla) belongs to includes exotics such as Oleander, Perriwinkle and Mandevilla and re-examining the flowers and seed pods of these popular garden plants leaves no doubt of the relationship between them. Starting life as a thin twining stem with remarkably variable leaf shapes (hence the name heterophylla), NZ jasmine matures into a soft wooded vine with much stouter, uniform leaves. The slender bean-like pod gradually dries then bursts releasing the seeds. The fluffy tufts attached to the seeds are a clear sign of their wind reliant dispersal and once the pods are ready there is a very short time frame between unripe and gone ! The pods are dark brown when ripe and they will continue and split after collection so can be picked when they start to dry and darken to ensure catching them. This plant is one of the fastest to germinate.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: CMS 2 - 4 months Germination: 8 - 16 weeks Pricking out: 4.5 - 9 months after sowing Tips: seeds don't store well |
Supplejack (Ripogonum scandens, kareao) is a visually striking feature of lowland bush as its black twining stems snake through the understory. It is endemic to New Zealand and belongs to a family (Ripogonaceae) whose only members are Ripogonum species found in Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand. The strong but flexible vines were traditionally used for hinaki (eel traps) and other baskets, fencing, thatching in whare and many other practical uses. Related to the sarsaparilla plant (Smilax), known for a multitude of medicinal properties, kareao root was also boiled for intestinal, fever, joint and skin complaints and for making and flavouring beer !
The large bright red berries of kareao are easy to spot but fruit can be tricky to collect if a strong wind has not 'helped' a vine closer to the ground. Once ripe though, they fall from the vine quite easily so a vigorous shake might get you a few. I love the spotted birds egg look of these seeds and if you're ever wondering what the red fruit is on the ground, the speckled seed inside will tell you instantly.
The large bright red berries of kareao are easy to spot but fruit can be tricky to collect if a strong wind has not 'helped' a vine closer to the ground. Once ripe though, they fall from the vine quite easily so a vigorous shake might get you a few. I love the spotted birds egg look of these seeds and if you're ever wondering what the red fruit is on the ground, the speckled seed inside will tell you instantly.
Flowering
 above: Dendrobium cunninghamii (Winika, pekapeka, Christmas orchid, bamboo orchid) right: Metrosideros perforata (white rata, akatea) below left: Lobelia anceps (New Zealand Lobelia, shore Lobelia) below right: Raoulia glabra (mat daisy) |  |
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below: Veronica (Hebe) parviflora, the largest of the mainland Veronica species reaching up to 7.5 mtrs !
