 |  | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 1.5 - 3 weeks Pricking out: 2 - 5 months after sowing Tips: don't bury too deep when pricking out and don't overwater while small |
Top left: A. fulvida (toetoe), inside of leaf base glabrous (no hairs) when bent back from where it meets the stem. Right: A. toetoe, hairy on the inside of the leaf base. You can see the leaf colour difference quite well in these pics too, A. toetoe more yellow-green than A. fulvida.
A. fulvida is one of two species common around Wellington and is the first of the two to flower which is a good way to tell them apart (at least in November and early December). Its generally more delicate looking with slender stems and longer arched flower heads compared to the sturdier more upright flower heads of A. toetoe but when in doubt the pics above show some obvious differences. Toetoe is ready to collect when the seed heads have changed from sleek to fluffy, the stems have turned golden instead of green and the seeds are easily falling out when the head is shaken.
Whatever you do don't confuse either of them with the exotic pampas grass, Cortaderia jubata (pink tinge) and C. selloana which flower roughly in between A. fulvida and A. toetoe and have the give away spiralled dead leaf bases that resemble wood shavings around the base of the clump.
Whatever you do don't confuse either of them with the exotic pampas grass, Cortaderia jubata (pink tinge) and C. selloana which flower roughly in between A. fulvida and A. toetoe and have the give away spiralled dead leaf bases that resemble wood shavings around the base of the clump.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: ~ 4 weeks Pricking out: 5 - 6 months after sowing Tips: prick out while still very small |
Coriaria sarmentosa, is one of seven species in Aotearoa, all of which are known as tutu. Tutu is best known for its extreme toxicity resulting in higher stock losses than from any other plant. It's also a concern for the honey industry due to toxic honeydew deposited on the petals by other insects being gathered and carried back to the hives by bees.
Despite this high toxicity it was an extremely popular drink historically as the juices of the fleshy 'berries' (like Muehlenbeckia, actually swollen flower parts) are free from the tutin toxin. Juice from the berries was strained and either fermented into wine or mixed with boiled seaweed to make a dark coloured jelly. Other parts of the plant were used in countless topical salves and poultices for cuts, sprains, bruises and many other ailments.
Several Coriaria species are very common in New Zealand and surprisingly poorly known considering their danger. C. sarmentosa is a sprawling low shrub that can cover large areas around Wellington's south coast, clinging to rocky banks and cliffs and producing beautiful, large spikes of almost black fruit. Were it not for its risk to humans and animals alike, we might get to enjoy this attractive plant more widely. It certainly has an important place in our local coastal ecosystem, providing easily accessible juicy fruits in a place where many plants tuck their goods down tightly in the sharp salty winds.
Because it dies down in winter, dry storing the seed to ensure germination in warmer conditions may increase seedling survival, especially after pricking out.
Despite this high toxicity it was an extremely popular drink historically as the juices of the fleshy 'berries' (like Muehlenbeckia, actually swollen flower parts) are free from the tutin toxin. Juice from the berries was strained and either fermented into wine or mixed with boiled seaweed to make a dark coloured jelly. Other parts of the plant were used in countless topical salves and poultices for cuts, sprains, bruises and many other ailments.
Several Coriaria species are very common in New Zealand and surprisingly poorly known considering their danger. C. sarmentosa is a sprawling low shrub that can cover large areas around Wellington's south coast, clinging to rocky banks and cliffs and producing beautiful, large spikes of almost black fruit. Were it not for its risk to humans and animals alike, we might get to enjoy this attractive plant more widely. It certainly has an important place in our local coastal ecosystem, providing easily accessible juicy fruits in a place where many plants tuck their goods down tightly in the sharp salty winds.
Because it dies down in winter, dry storing the seed to ensure germination in warmer conditions may increase seedling survival, especially after pricking out.
 |
Carex flagellifera (Glen Murray tussock, Trip Me Up) is a common sedge found throughout the country and is similar in appearance to other thin-leaved sedges. Preferring light shade it inhabits coastal to montane areas in open bush and scrub. It's very quick and easy to grow so is a great filler and weed suppressor for more open sites. The seed stalks can reach an incredible 2 - 3 meters in length (!), trailing out along the ground and absolutely true to the name 'tirp-me-up'.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: remove fruit, dry and sow Germination: 4 months Pricking out: 6 - 10 months after sowing Tips: variable germination time but very easy to grow once up |
Tetragonia implexicoma (native spinach) is easily distinguished from the other, more palatable but now at risk Tetragonia tetragonoides (kokihi, New Zealand spinach, tutae-ikamoana), by the bright pink fleshy berries. This plant is common around the coast but will grow in any suitable sunny spot. Though it looks fairly scraggly in the wild, when given slightly more favourable conditions it can be a really attractive ground cover for a hot dry spot.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: ~ 6 weeks Pricking out: I got one plant from the sowing and divided it into several once big enough Tips: prefers very dry habitats and will not cope with overwatering though its deep roots need to reach moisture and not get too hot. Mix extra pumice or sand into the growing media |
Raoulia hookeri var. hookeri (Scabweed, scabweed mat daisy) a real cutie common around the rocky coast though this genus is more commonly a feature of alpine environments. Raoulia is only found in New Zealand and has diversified into over 20 species all with the distinct mat forming growth habit. Its a daisy (Asteraceae family) like Brachyglottis and Olearia, the tree daisies, and shares the same low seed viability so don't expect a wonderful strike rate.
The seed heads are those small balls of fluff on the top of the mat. Like most mat forming and ground cover plants Raoulia is easy to propagate from divisions because it sprouts roots from the stems as it spreads so you just cut off a small section with roots and plant it. The down side of divisions (or any type of cutting) is that there is no genetic variation so its always preferable to grow from seed.
The seed heads are those small balls of fluff on the top of the mat. Like most mat forming and ground cover plants Raoulia is easy to propagate from divisions because it sprouts roots from the stems as it spreads so you just cut off a small section with roots and plant it. The down side of divisions (or any type of cutting) is that there is no genetic variation so its always preferable to grow from seed.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 4 - 8 months Pricking out: 11 - 12 months after sowing Tips: though they grow up into the sun these need cool roots at all times |
See November post for an image of Clematis forsteri (Forster's clematis) in flower, its smaller yellowish flowers are easily distinguished from C. paniculata (white clematis, puawananga), which has large very white flowers and stands out as bright white patches in trees in early spring. C. afoliata you're not likely to see unless you visit the one rather out of the way spot where it grows.
These all have a surprisingly long seed maturation period, they slowly turn fluffy then sit on the seed head for what seems like forever. Don't be tempted to pick them too early, seeds disperse when they're ready and this one is dispersed by wind so they should be dry and brown like the ones above and come away very easily when grasped.
These all have a surprisingly long seed maturation period, they slowly turn fluffy then sit on the seed head for what seems like forever. Don't be tempted to pick them too early, seeds disperse when they're ready and this one is dispersed by wind so they should be dry and brown like the ones above and come away very easily when grasped.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 4 - 6 weeks Pricking out: 2 - 5 months after sowing Tips: very easy |
Plagianthus divaricatus (maakaka, Salt marsh ribbonwood, marsh ribbonwood) is a dense interlacing shrub that is a valuable salt marsh restoration plant. It tolerates wet salty soil and salt winds and its quick and easy to grow. The small sweetly scented flowers are followed by a dry capsule that will germinate readily even when picked quite green i.e. before the dry papery covering of the capsule flakes away. They can suffer badly from seed predating insects so check for the small holes in the seeds before sowing to avoid disappointment.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh but seed stores well if needed Germination: 4 - 6 weeks Pricking out: 2 - 5 months after sowing Tips: very easy from seed and takes well from cuttings too |
Sadly Euphorbia glauca (waiu-atua, shore spurge, sea spurge, sand milkweed) is declining nationally in the wild due largely to habitat loss and the resulting vulnerability of smaller more fragmented populations. Current Wellington populations having gone extinct, have been established entirely through restoration. This plant is easy and quick to grow from seed which is ready when the capsule turns pale brown like the one in the very centre of the picture above. When the capsules dry out they will pop on their own, flinging out the dark grey seeds.
Like several of our most threatened species it is very popular in home gardens for its striking grey foliage and red flowers and is happy in most open situations.
Like several of our most threatened species it is very popular in home gardens for its striking grey foliage and red flowers and is happy in most open situations.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: CMS 2 - 3 months Germination: 2 - 6 months Pricking out: 6.5 - 7 months after sowing Tips: These are slow growers so allow at least a couple of years between pricking out and planting out |
Myrsine australis (Red mapou, red matipo, mapau, red maple), is a very successful coloniser and therefore a top restoration plant. It is tolerant of very poor, dry soils and wind and at the same time manages to produce big juicy fruit loved by birds (the female trees that is, this species is dioecious, having separate male and female trees). However the fruit are also loved by weevils so if you're collecting what's left after the birds have been through, be sure to discard the ones that float in water after washing the fruit off. Weevil predation can account for the loss of 30 - 50% of the seeds ! On the up side there is a long fruiting season, I've collected these any time between December and April.
Flowering
 Northern rata (Metrosideros robusta) meaning 'sturdy iron heart', an absolute stunner at this time of year. Tell it apart from pohutukawa by its more orange rather than deep red flowers, its more yellowish green leaves rather than silvery blue green, and up close, the small apical notch in the tip of the smaller leaf. |  Pennantia corymbosa (kaikomako), the bold creamy flowers that take over the show from Parsonsia will be followed by black berries. |
 above: Carpodetus serratus (putaputeweta, marbleleaf)  above: Carmichaelia australis (common broom) right: Apium prostratum subsp. prostratum var. filiforme (NZ celery) |  above: Samolus repens var. repens (Sea primrose, shore pimpernel, water pimpernel)  above: Pimelea prostrata subsp. seismica (NZ Daphne, pinatoro)  |
