Coprosma dumosa syn. Coprosma tayloriae or mikimiki is endemic to the North Island (from Kaimai Range south), South Island (rare in Fiordland) & Stewart Island, and is most commonly found in higher rainfall montane forests and shrublands, mostly above 300m asl. It is a bushy shrub up to 3m tall with 'layered' branches, and has small, thick, pale grey-green elliptic leaves that are 4-6mm long, in clusters of pairs, with tiny hairs on margin in wetter areas. It has orange, red or white fruit (mostly white/transluscent in North Island) from January to May, often persisting into winter. It will tolerate frost, sun or semi-shade, dry, moist and exposed sites.

Landscaping with ferns

New Zealand is blessed with a large number of fern species, with many natural hybrids and 10 species of tree ferns, one of which is our nations emblem, and has pride of place on many a sports-persons clothing.  As mentioned we have 10 tree fern species and none of them are named ‘punga’, they all have their own names. Ferns add that special magic to many situations. They can give a garden a lush cool feeling with their majestic arching fronds. They can soften the hard lines of buildings and tone down the harsh colours of modern architecture. Ferns can be planted in large groups to give a woodland effect to a landscaped area, this more natural easy flowing design with more emphasis put on foliage texture as the colour. In the understorey, plantings of ferns as a groundcover is where they often come into their own. Ferns soon create a dense cover giving a pleasing lushness to any setting. With many established gardens the areas under trees often present a difficult planting problem. With the addition of organic matter and a bit of lower branch pruning a whole new micro-climate can be opened up. Ferns can revel in these protected cool microclimates. Ferns are foliage plants with a myriad of textures and forms to choose from. Their lush greens are often high-lighted by combining them with other suitable plants, such as Arthropodium spp., Libertia spp, Dianella nigra, Chatham Island forget-me-nots and many others. A fern in a container can provide an interesting focal point such as giving that shady back door an interesting feature. Many ferns will do well in containers. All they need is a site that is generally shaded or semi-shade, shelter from the wind, good soil that is rich in humus and well drained, mulched well, and a good supply of moisture. An annual dressing of blood and bone also helps keeping them looking good.

For an information sheet on ferns, just head to our website:  https://www.treesforcanterbury.org.nz/planting-trees-and-shrubs/landscaping-with-ferns-in-temperate-climates/

Pachystegia insignis or Marlborough rock daisy is endemic, and naturally occurs on steep rocky hillsides in coastal and mountain situations only in Marlborough. It is a native species of flowering plants in the daisy family, Asteraceae. It is a compact, low-growing shrub up to 0.9m -1m tall. It is highly resistant to summer drought conditions with their thick leathery leaves, dense felt like tomentum (matted woolly down) on the undersides and on young stems help to retain water. It daisy is common throughout eastern parts of Marlborough, but is most plentiful along the Kaikoura coast where it can be seen growing off many of the steep rocky bluffs or stony sites composed of sandstone gravels. The local rock types have a relatively high level of natural fertilizer especially calcium bound phosphorus
It has large dark green leathery glossy leaves 7.5 - 17.5 cm long which have a heavy felting of silvery, white tomentum on the upper surface when young, becoming deep green and glossy with age. The mature leaves are shiny green above and are clothed in a thick white or light brown tomentum beneath. In June to August the immature flower heads start as felt drumsticks and then bear daisy-like solitary white flower heads, up to 75mm across, with yellow centres. Fluffy seeds follow.
At present, 3 species are recognised in the genus.  Pachystegia insignis, Pachystegia minor and Pachystegia rufa all endemic to New Zealand. Pachystegia insignis is by far the most common and wide spread within the genus’s natural region which as the common name suggests is Marlborough. There it is found from the Wairau River in the north and to the south to the Waiau River North Canterbury and inland as far as Molesworth Station. The other two species, P. rufa and P. minor are also found growing within this range but are confined too much smaller areas. It is thought that P. rufa is only found in four small gullies all in close proximity. Pachystegia insignis hybridises readily with Pachystegia rufa, creating a variety of intermediate forms.

 Discaria toumatou, matagouri or wild irishman is endemic to the North and South Islands. In the North Island known from near Waiuku south to the southern Wairarapa and Wellington coastline, but is very uncommon in the North Island. In the South Island mainly east of the main divide, appearing to avoid areas of high rainfall.  Rather variable, and some North Island sand dune forms are entirely prostrate, forming trailing shrubs. An excellent hedge plant, with the added bonus that this species fixes atmospheric nitrogen, making it available for other plants.
Not threatened for most of its range, but however, very uncommon and under threat throughout the North Island, where it is now known from very few sites and viable populations. A spiny shrub or tree reaching up to 5m tall and found in dry riverbeds, open rocky places and sand dunes from the coast to subalpine regions.  The thorns are vicious.  It needs a dry sunny site but makes a wonderful contrasting plant or home security system.

Helichrysum lanceolatum or niniao is endemic to the North and South Islands. It is found in coastal, lowland and lower montane shrubland, scrub and forest margins, especially in drier, rockier places. A variable, much-branched interlacing shrub up to 3m, that appears pale grey from a distance. Branclets are quite slender, flexible, and finely hairy when young, with light green to dull grey-green on upper side and white underneath. It has clusters of tiny creamy white, scented flowers from October to November, that turn pale fawn and fluffy as seeds ripen. It is best suited for sunny, drier, well-drained positions in a garden.

Asplenium bulbiferum, pikopiko or Hen and chicken fern is endemic to the North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands. It is found from coastal to subalpine regions, but usually in lowland forest where it is a common species of the ground-layer, especially in high rainfall areas. It is commonly associated with riparian forest, and as a species of base-rich substrates. It also commonly forms hybrids with other asplenia. It is a reliable, hardy & adaptable fern up to 1m tall and wide, that prefers filtered light and good drainage. Good container plant, & suitable for indoors or out.

Griselinia littoralis, kapuka, papauma or broadleaf is endemic to the North, South and Stewart Islands. It is found from sea-level to 1060m asl in lowland forests and lower subalpine scrub, from  the Bay of Islands area in the north southwards,  and throughout the South and Stewart Island where it is particularly abundant in the south. This very handsome round-headed branching tree of 9-15m, can have a short, gnarled or twisted trunk that can be 60cm – 1.5m through. It has leaves that are more or less oval, that are bright green and quite leathery. It is a very common plant in the make-up of some South Island forests and can quite often commence life as an epiphyte on old fallen logs. It is a great plant for any garden, and may be pruned and kept as a shrub of 3-4m. It will grow in most soil types, and as it tolerates almost any amount of pruning it makes a great plant for a hedge. As it is tolerant of persistent winds, this makes it especially useful in a coastal garden. It makes an excellent container plant.  It was first discovered at Akaroa, Banks Peninsula by E. Raoul.

Dicksonia squarrosa or wheki is endemic to the North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands, and is abundant in lowland and hilly forests from sea-level to 760m asl. This is one of the most abundant tree ferns and is easily recognised by its slender trunk , that is clothed by the hard black bases of its frond stalks, and dead fronds can often form a dense skirt around the trunk. Adventitious buds are often produced on the trunk especially if the crown is damaged, with rather stout rhizomes sent up from the root up to a metre or so up the trunk and forming a new plant. An adaptable and hardy tree fern, it suits a filtered light to partially sunny situation, and can sometimes grow in full sun provided the roots are well shaded. Provide shelter and add plenty organic matter to soil. Water whole plant to get established. Can grow  a 1.8 to 4m high trunk over time, but sometimes up to 6m.

Leptinella squalida subspecies squalida is endemic to the North, South and Chatham Islands. In the North Island it is uncommon north of the Waikato. It is found in mostly coastal or inland from sea-level to 300 m a.s.l., in open turf, on coastal cliffs, in coastal turf, along river beds or in open grassland and open, damp places within shrubland and lowland forest. In some urban areas it is reported  as a lawn weed. Often found growing with Hydrocotyle heteromeria and H. microphylla. Some forms of L. squalida subsp. squalida have also been gathered from subalpine to alpine habitats in the central North Island.  It is a dioecious, widely creeping, fast-growing perennial herb forming dense monospecific turfs or intermingled with other turf species.  It has rhizomes growing at or near soil surface, that are green, dark green to red-green, with two rows of  bright green or yellow-green leaves. It flowers from August – February.  It grows in semi-shade or shade, moist areas but is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions. It is an excellent lawn cover but can be invasive. Very variable, it could benefit from cultivar selection.

Pimelea oreophila subsp. oreophila or native daphne is endemic to the South Island and is found in Cantebury, Westland, Otago (mostly western Otago but also sparse central), western Southland and Fiordland. It grows in montane to alpine, in open forest near the treeline, in tall and short tussock grassland associated with a wide range of other small grasses, forbs, dwarf shrubs and some medium height shrubs. Usually above the treeline but also at lower levels (500 m or less) in places where frosts are severe in valley floors and where forest has been removed by fire. It is a low growing, sprawling plant that is seldom up to 30cm tall with long slender flexible hairy branchlets when young. It is covered in creamy-white, sweetly strongly scented flowers from October to January, followed by red, or sometimes orange or yellow fruit. As it is found in subalpine regions and exposed rocky places throughout N.Z. it makes an ideal rock garden plant.

 Melicytus alpinus or porcupine shrub is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand, and is found near sea-level to 900m asl in fellfield and rocky places in mountain top subalpine regions east of the Main Divide, and open grassland areas from Marlborough soth to Otago. This shrub has an unusual appearance with somewhat interlacing branches and rather hard spine-like tips to its branchlets. A depressed or rounded compact shrub of 30 to 60cm's tall with small leaves, it is often sprawled against rocks and stones, but can create a hemi-spherical shape when grown in gardens. Once it has formed a dense bush with the spinose tips of the branchlets protruding from all sides of the bush its appearance gives that of a porcupine, hence its common name. It has tiny white bell shaped flowers on the undersides of its branches in October-November followed by white to dull blue berries. A very hardy shrub, it is best grown in a sunny position with good drainage, and makes a good addition to a rock garden or to a border.