Corokia, with its distinctive zig-zagging branches and small, often colourful berries, makes a charming and resilient hedging plant. These evergreen, NZ native shrubs offer a unique textural element to any garden. Their compact growth habit makes them ideal for low to medium-sized hedges, providing privacy and structure. A Corokia hedge offers a touch of New Zealand's unique flora to your landscape and our articles will help you achieve fantastic results.
Growing a Corokia hedge takes some thought and planning to ensure you get what you are after. Factors such as the hedge spacing, desired height, and variety are all important considerations. The Plant Company have produced this series of articles to provide advice for trimming a Corokia hedge and pruning Corokia plants so you can manicure your bushes with confidence and success.
Corokia make amazing hedges (both formal and informal) and to create an outstanding hedge The Plant Company recommends spacing them 40-50 cm apart. The faster you want the hedge to fill in, the closer they should be planted is the general rule. With this planting regime they will close in quickly and also push each other upwards as they compete for light. The result is a fabulous hedge every time.
You can go out to 75 cm if the budget is tight but that will often result in a gap at the bottom between plants which is hard to fill. The gap results from the natural vase shape with which these plants grow. In this situation, opt for smaller grade sizes and plant more of them rather than going with bigger plants as this will make the money go further and produce a better result in the longer term.
If 25L grades (or bigger) are purchased which are 1m tall and lush, you can space these 75 cm apart without issue. These grades have generally been manicured to ensure they are bushy to the base and will therefore branch and fill in more easily.
Most Corokia varieties will sprout new shoots when cut right back, even to stumps at ground level. However, this relies on the plant having heathy stems at the outset and not being too old. If the stumps have any dead wood or they are too old (more than five years), they may not shoot or may only shoot on one side. Similarly, stumps that still have actively growing foliage may not sprout unless all the foliage connected to that stem is completely removed. The older, the plant, however, the less likely it will resprout.
Severe pruning using a pruning saw is best undertaken any time from late autumn until early spring. Multiple shoots will usually grow from each stump. Please note: Corokia grown in heavy shade environments may struggle to re-establish when cut back severely.
Corokia make amazing formal hedges (i.e., trimmed), and to create an outstanding hedge, space plants 50-70 cm apart. The faster you want the hedge to fill in, the closer they should be planted. Similarly, space plants closely if you want a dense hedge quickly (i.e., 50 cm apart).
Variety selection is very important as not all varieties grow as tall as each other. Check out The Plant Company's range of Corokia varieties to make sure you get the right one. We have taken great care to provide accurate information and detail about how each one grows. The varieties most commonly used for a formal hedge are Geenty’s Green, Frosted Chocolate, Bronze King, Geenty’s Ghost, and Silver Ghost.
It is important to understand that the hedge is generally pruned in winter with about 10-15% of the exterior vegetation removed. The amount removed depends on how much you need to contain the hedge. The best Corokia hedges are trimmed again during summer. The notion being that the trimming is little and often to keep the plants dense and lush. That said, they still look good with once-a-year trimming.
The hedge width can be anywhere from 50 cm to 1.5 m for Corokia. Narrower hedges will take more regular trimming than wider ones, however. Work out the maximum width you want the hedge to grow to before trimming as you plan the planting. Trimming is generally 5-10 cm back from that outer width and allowing for a centre of at least 30 cm.
Corokia make amazing informal hedges (i.e., minimally trimmed) and to create an outstanding hedge, space plants 50-75 cm apart. The faster you want the hedge to fill in, the closer they should be planted. Similarly, space plants closely if you want a dense hedge quickly (50 cm apart).
Variety selection is very important as not all varieties grow as tall as each other. Check out our range of Corokia varieties to make sure you get the right one. The Plant Company has taken great care to provide accurate information and detail about how each one grows. The varieties often used for informal hedges are Geenty’s Green, Frosted Chocolate, Bronze King, Geenty’s Ghost, and Silver Ghost.
The hedge can be trimmed as little or as much as you want given it is the informality you are wanting. Sometimes, however, it is the natural shape of the plants that clients are after but still with the hedge closing in to a large extent. In these situations, The Plant Company recommends spacing plants 1-1.5 m apart, though they will take longer to close together in this situation.
Creating a Corokia topiary standard requires both patience and a straight, single-stemmed plant to start off with. The plant is staked to grow with a straight trunk to just past the mid-height of the topiary (i.e., ball). All the side branches are trimmed off to about 10 cm above the mid-point of the topiary. The top of the plant is cut off just above the mid-point of the ball to encourage sprouting just below the cut. As the new stems grow, they are routinely “tipped” (i.e., the top bud is pinched out) to encourage more shoots. All the time, the ball is progressively shaped until the desired size is achieved. This process can take two years (or more) to complete. If all this seems too hard or you don’t have the patience, contact us and we can generally supply your needs.
Corokia are trimmed each winter to contain growth and encourage fresh, new growth. The Plant Company recommends they are lightly trimmed each year to the size you are after and allowing for 30-50 cm of extension growth. You can be as aggressive as you want as the plants will sprout new buds from healthy stumps. Any dead stems should also be removed at this time, along with stems that show disease.
A mistake often made is to not prune the plants hard enough. This error generally results in a woodier plant and a much larger plant that can be difficult to contain. Corokia are very forgiving plants and even if you get the trimming wrong, they will recover!
The article, How To Grow A Corokia Hedge provides further advice.
Corokia can be trimmed at any time of the year, though winter is the time recommended by The Plant Company. It is the new growth that makes the plants look amazing, so cutting out the older growth to make way for the new growth in spring is the goal. All you need is a good pair of secateurs and you can be as aggressive as you want. The plants will sprout new buds from stumps as long as they are not diseased. When Corokia are grown in pots they are often clipped every 2-3 months. This keeps them dense and helps make them shapelier.
There is a wealth of information about Corokia and often The Plant Company is asked specific questions that don’t fit into ordinary categories, so we have filed them here!
Corokia are versatile plants that can tolerate a range of light conditions, from full sun to partial shade. However, it will perform best in full sun, where it will produce the most flowers and berries, and have more compact growth. In partial shade, Corokia may become leggy, with fewer flowers and berries.
If you are planting Corokia in a partially shaded area, it is important to choose a spot that receives at least 4-6 hours of sunlight per day. You should also avoid planting Corokia in areas with deep shade, as this can significantly impact plant performance.
Corokia are evergreen plants. This makes them a popular choice for hedging and screening, providing year-round privacy. Corokia are also known for their attractive foliage, which can range in colour from bright green to silver-grey. Some varieties even have variegated leaves with different shades of green, yellow, and cream. In addition to their attractive foliage, they produce small, star-shaped flowers in spring and summer. These flowers are often followed by brightly coloured berries in autumn and winter.
Corokia can take a heavy frost once established, though young trees should be protected until they are at least 50 cm tall. Frost Cloth is a good option for protecting vulnerable plants. Be careful to harden off recently purchased plants if you intend to plant these during winter and frosts are likely. Do this by gradually exposing them to the cooler conditions over a 2-3 week period or until such time as you think that a frost won’t damage them. The Plant Company recommends holding off planting until spring if you are at all worried that new plants might get frosted.
If plants do get frosted, they will generally recover. However, you will need to protect them from further frosts as this could kill them completely. Generally speaking, a good sized Corokia planted in spring should have grown tall enough to cope with frosts the following winter.
Corokia are well suited to coastal areas as their leaves are small and they have a dense network of stems which helps protect them from the elements. This allows them to tolerate wind and some sea spray. However, being constantly coated with sea spray can result in leaf burning. If the soil is too saline, this can prove detrimental to plants and can result in the plants being stunted. If you elect to plant in this environment, The Plant Company recommends ensuring the soil is well prepared with organic matter such as compost and provide some shelter with regular watering during dry periods.
Corokias are easily propagated from stem cuttings. Semi-hardwood cuttings are usually taken from autumn until mid-spring. A stem about 8-10 cm long is trimmed into a cutting using secateurs with 2-3 leaves at the top and just below a node. A nick is taken off the base of the cutting to expose more tissue. The cutting is dipped in rooting hormone for 5-10 seconds and then inserted into propagation growing media. The tray of cuttings is placed under mist with bottom heat also applied. The cuttings will have taken root inside of five weeks as a general rule.
Whether Corokia are an easy plant depends on your definition of "easy" and your level of gardening experience. Here's a breakdown to help you decide:
Pros:
Cons:
Conclusion:
If you're a beginner gardener who prefers low-maintenance plants and can provide full sun, well-drained soil, and occasional care, Corokia can be a good choice. However, if you have limited sun, struggle with overwatering, or lack the time for regular pruning, you might want to consider other options.
Corokia is a genus of small evergreen shrubs and trees that is native to New Zealand. There are three species in the genus: Corokia cotoneaster, Corokia buddleioides, and Corokia macrocarpa. They are generally all popular garden plants dur to their attractive foliage, flowers, and berries, and ease to grow. They are also important for wildlife, providing food and shelter for birds and other animals.
"Korokio" is a Māori word that refers to the plant Corokia cotoneaster, commonly known as the wire-netting bush. The word itself doesn't have a direct translation in English, but it carries cultural significance within the Māori language. Therefore, while there isn't a single English word that perfectly captures the meaning of "Korokio," understanding its context and cultural background helps appreciate its significance.
The fastest growing Corokia are Corokia 'Frosted Chocolate' and Corokia 'Geenty's Green' which can grow to 2 m tall in about five years. These are vigorous and adaptable plants that can tolerate a variety of soil and climatic conditions, including coastal exposure.
Other fast-growing Corokia include: • Corokia 'Bronze King' • Corokia 'Emerald n Jade' • Corokia 'Sunsplash'
These varieties typically grow 50-60 cm per year, provided they are at least 30 cm tall when planted.
When choosing a Corokia variety, it is important to consider the desired growth rate, height, and spread of the plant, as well as the climate and soil. The Plant Company has provided great detail with each of our plants.
Corokia do have issues from time to time. Therefore, it is important to understand the underlying issue(s) and have the remedies to fix the problem. The Plant Company have produced this series of articles to help you in the quest for answers to address Corokia hedge problems and diseases.
The most common disease problem with Corokia is root rot, which is caused by over watering or prolonged wetness. The tell-tale symptoms are yellowing of the leaves, leaf drop, and darkening of the stems. This can happen over several months during any season, and progressively gets worse.
The best solution to this issue is good drainage. Often the disease will start to show several weeks after a prolonged rain event. It can also occur when plants are regularly over-watered. Therefore, good drainage is essential and sites where drainage is poor should be avoided.
Nutritional issues can occur from time to time if plants have not been fed for a number of years. This often shows up as discoloured foliage, which, over time will show dead areas on the leaf. A liquid fertiliser can be used to correct issues quickly and should be supported with native plant fertiliser during spring.
Corokia do not suffer from pest issues as a general rule. We have seen the odd aphid on plants in the nursery but not at levels that would justify spraying them. That said, if pest levels are high and of concern, then a general insecticide can be used for their control. Please always read the label before using any agrichemical.
Leaf yellowing can result from disease (refer to the article Corokia Diseases) as well as poor drainage and too much shade. A sign of poor drainage is often seen by the older leaves exhibiting yellowing. If the internal leaves of the plant are yellowing, yet the outer leaves remain green, it is highly likely that they are being shaded by the outer leaves. Such yellowing in this instance is normal.
Occasionally, nutritional issues can occur if plants have not been fed for a number of years. This often shows up as discoloured foliage. A liquid fertiliser can be used to correct issues quickly and should be supported with native plant fertiliser during spring.
If the new growth on your Corokia has been killed or damaged by frost, prune the plant back to healthy wood above a bud after the risk of frost has passed. If a plant has been aggressively pruned in a cold climate and an unseasonal frost is forecast, frost cloth or a blanket may be used to afford protection. It is important not to cut off the frosted growth until the risk has passed as this growth, albeit ugly, is helping to shield the plant from further damage.
New shoots tend to be more prone to frost damage than older ones. For this reason, The Plant Company does not recommend applying fertiliser of any kind to plants between mid-autumn and late-winter as this can stimulate growth and cause soft shoots.
As a general rule, Corokia are hardy to frost but should be conditioned to the environment before planting. For example, if a Corokia was purchased from Auckland and shipped to Christchurch during winter, the plant will not have adjusted to or been exposed to frost as yet. The plant may well suffer frost injury if planted out immediately. In this instance it would be better to plant in spring or cover plants with frost cloth each night for their first winter.
This question often arises when someone has planted a hedge and one or more of the plants die or simply don’t perform. The most common causes in order of likelihood are:
The Plant Company has a range of Corokia varieties and the choice depends on the what the plant is to be used for. The most common uses are: informal hedging (i.e., not trimmed) and formal hedging (trimmed), maintaining in a pot, including in tropical gardens, or for planting around outdoor living areas such as pools and the like. Our short articles delve into the popular varieties and uses for Corokias.
Corokia 'Bronze King' is a handsome and versatile evergreen shrub native to New Zealand. It's prized for its attractive foliage and resilience to various growing conditions. Here's a summary of its key characteristics:
Overall, Corokia 'Bronze King' is a popular choice for gardeners due to its attractive foliage and its versatility. It can be used for hedges, borders, or as a standalone shrub. Moreover, it can is adaptable to various growing conditions and has minimal maintenance requirements.
Some key information about Corokia buddleioides:
Growing conditions:
Uses:
Overall, Corokia buddleioides is a versatile and low-maintenance shrub that is well-suited for a variety of garden uses.
Corokia 'Frosted Chocolate' is a hardy, evergreen shrub native to New Zealand. It's prized for its unique foliage colour and adaptability, making it a popular choice for gardens in many regions. Some of its key characteristics include:
Overall, Corokia 'Frosted Chocolate' is a versatile and low-maintenance shrub that offers:
Corokia 'Geenty's Ghost' is a hardy and visually striking evergreen shrub native to New Zealand. It's prized for its unique silvery foliage, adaptability, and low-maintenance needs, making it a popular choice for gardeners in many regions. Some of its key characteristics include:
Overall, Corokia 'Geenty's Ghost' is a versatile and low-maintenance shrub. It offers year-round interest with its unique foliage and can adapt to various growing conditions.
The list of Corokia that The Plant Company has cataloged, worked on, propagated, and marketed is extensive. Our database of Corokia varieties is listed below:
Corokia owe their popularity to not just their aesthetics, but also to their versatility. They are commonly planted as formal and informal hedges, or used as backdrops for smaller plants. They are well suited to blending into the background rather than being a statement piece. When used in this way they become complementary to the statement plant(s). The small leaves and soft colour palette of Corokia is great for adding both depth and texture to a planting. This is especially so when using varieties that tend to have more stem than leaf exposed such as Corokia 'Baby Prince'.
Overall, they can be included in most garden styles with ease and make for an exciting addition. Explore The Plant Company’s range of Corokia varieties to find the one(s) that will suit your design needs!
A wide range of plants can be grown with Corokia. When used for hedging The Plant Company often recommends using grasses or dwarf flaxes to bring in different colours and textures, and avoid what would otherwise be a wall of the same colour. Some popular flax options include Jack Spratt, Yellow Wave, and Dark Delight, while grass options include Feather Falls, Carex testacea, and Frosted Curls.
Trailing plants such as Lysimachia, Dichondra, or Cerastium are often used for Corokia grown in a pot. They bring colour and a complementary style, though the colour of the pot and Corokia variety will often be the determining factor for which plant is chosen. Where Corokia are included in a mixed planting, we will still use the aforementioned plants but now mix it up with other NZ natives such as Hebes, Flowering Manukas, Pseudopanax, and Coprosmas.
The good thing about Corokia is that they are versatile and blend easily with most plant colours and textures in a subtle and non-overpowering manner. A key consideration with any of these pairings, however, is how big you will let the Corokia grow to. A big shrub can quickly dwarf the plants around it and start to suffocate them. Therefore, The Plant Company suggests first determining the ultimate size you want the Corokia, then make plant choices that keep the proportions appropriate for the intended use.
The characteristics of the NZ Native Corokia cotoneaster, also known as Korokio, include:
The Plant Company recommends the following varieties based on their popularity and suitability for different uses:
Be sure to check out The Plant Company’s amazing range of Corokia varieties to find the one(s) that will suit your needs.
Corokia 'Geenty's Green' is a popular choice for gardeners for several reasons:
Versatility:
Adaptability:
Additional benefits:
Overall, Corokia 'Geenty's Green' combines attractive features, adaptability, and ease of care, making it a popular choice for gardeners seeking a versatile and low-maintenance shrub.
Providing the best fertiliser for Corokia is important to ensure the plants perform well. The correct fertiliser depends on whether the plant is grown in a pot or in soil, and getting this wrong can be disastrous for your plants. Our articles provide the best advice about Corokia fertiliser so you can achieve the amazing results you are after.
Corokia are vigorous plants that require feeding to keep them growing optimally. The Plant Company’s native plant fertiliser has been blended to give plants an initial boost and then sustained nutrition for 12-months. We recommend the fertiliser is applied to the soil surface in spring just as the plants start to grow actively. More importantly, we advise that no fertiliser is placed in the hole at planting, but rather spread around the soil surface so it can wash through the roots as it releases. This ensures that nutrients remain in the soil around the plant rather than being lost through the soil profile to where the plant cannot reach it. This also applies to plants grown on sandy soils. The Plant Company’s native plant fertiliser is therefore very environmentally friendly and longer lasting than most other products in the market.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if native plant fertiliser has been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush.
Corokia grown in containers require different fertiliser to those grown outdoors in soil. In this instance the correct fertilisers to use are either the container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets. Each of these will provide safe, sustained, and complete nutrition to the plant for the next 12-months. Using other types of fertiliser can be detrimental to the plant and may result in plant injury or death.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets have been used. If you think the plant needs an extra boost or has some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush as the nutrition is right where the plant needs it.
Corokia are showy plants that require feeding to keep them looking amazing. A lot of articles have all sorts of advice on this subject which often requires multiple applications so you use more of their fertiliser. The Plant Company prefers to take a simpler and more environmentally responsible approach. We believe the best organic option is The Plant Company organic fertiliser which is applied in spring and again in autumn. This product will keep them well fed and looking amazing. Equally important, you can safely apply generous amounts of this fertiliser without risk of injuring the plants. More details about this organic fertiliser are provided with the product.
The soil pH refers to how acid of alkaline the soil is. Corokia prefer a soil pH within the range of 6.2 to 7.5 which means they will tolerate both acidic and semi-alkaline soils. As the pH of the soil moves away from this optimum range, the nutrients the plant is taking up (or not taking up) through the roots changes. If the shift in pH is too far, this can result in deficiencies of some nutrients and toxic levels of others. In either case this can cause the plant to become sick or even die a slow death.
The best way to know whether the pH is correct for your plant is to do a test. The Plant Company has pH test kits available that are easy to use and only take a few minutes to get a result. Preferably this test should be completed before planting so any pH issues can be corrected without risking the plant. A pH less 6.2 should have sparing amounts of dolomite lime applied along with shrub fertiliser. A pH above 7.5 should have small amounts of soil acidifying fertiliser applied. In both instances the fertiliser should be thoroughly mixed into the soil before planting. A retest of the soil pH should be undertaken after four weeks and small adjustments made again. If the pH is in the optimum range, just use shrub fertiliser thereafter.
Planting Corokia and getting them to grow well is generally easy when you get a few of the basics right. This involves planting them in the right soil type, choosing the most ideal planting position, selecting the best variety, and ensuring the plants have the essentials to thrive. The Plant Company has the right advice to ensure success when you are growing a Corokia hedge.
Corokia are very easy to grow, but you need to have the basics right. Choose a sunny spot with good drainage. The soil should be well prepared with organic matter added from either compost or sheep pellets mixed in. Feeding your plants in spring with shrub fertiliser will replenish nutrients and keep them fed for 12 months. Prune your Corokia in winter each year with secateurs to control their growth and encourage fresh growth in spring. They should also be watered regularly during dry periods to keep them flourishing.
The answer to this question depends on how much shade. As shade levels increase, Corokia tend to become “leggy” and more open in their growth habit. In full sun they tend to be much more compact in their growth. So yes, they will grow in partial shaded conditions such as down the side of a house or under dappled light from a tree, but growth is likely to be less than if they were growing in better light. Please note that in partially shaded environments the central leaves on the plant will often yellow and fall which can result in a plant that has mostly exterior foliage only.
Absolutely, and they look amazing when managed appropriately. Choose a pot that is no more than twice the size of what the Corokia is currently growing in and that has plenty of drainage holes in the bottom. Fill the bottom of the pot to about 1/3 of the way up with potting mix. Do not use soil or compost when growing plants in a container and do not add fertiliser. The Plant Company potting mix has all the nutrients required to sustain the plant for the next 12 months.
Now assess the roots before progressing. If they are not all bound up, and haven’t been growing in a circle within their original container, place the plant in the new pot without removing any of the growing media or cutting the roots. You can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. If, however, the roots have been circling the inside of the pot or they look root bound, simply cut through those outer roots on either side with secateurs. You don’t need to be any more aggressive than this or remove any of the growing media. You can try and tease the roots apart, but this generally breaks them which is why we cut them. Add more potting mix and firm this around the plant using gentle pressure, then water well. They should be watered twice a week during hot weather and weekly or fortnightly during cooler periods.
The key to having an amazing Corokia in a pot is to keep trimming it to keep it shapely, contained, and dense. Typically, the plants would be lightly clipped every 2-3 months.
The Plant Company has a range of Corokia varieties and the choice depends on the what the plant is to be used for. The most common uses are: informal hedging (i.e., not trimmed) and formal hedging (trimmed), maintaining in a pot, including in tropical gardens, or for planting around outdoor living areas such as pools and the like.
The Plant Company recommends the following varieties based on their popularity and suitability for different uses: Formal hedging: Frosted Chocolate, Geenty’s Ghost, Emerald n Jade, and Geenty’s Green Informal hedging: Mangatangi, Bronze King, Pounamu, and Little Prince. Growing in a container: Yellow Wonder, Silver Ghost, and Phantom. Outdoor living areas: Frosted Chocolate, Geenty’s Ghost, Emerald n Jade, and Geenty’s Green.
Be sure to check out The Plant Company's amazing range of Corokia varieties to find the one(s) that will suit your needs.
Corokias owe their popularity to not just their aesthetics, but also to their versatility. They are commonly planted as formal and informal hedges, or used as backdrops for smaller plants. They are well suited to blending into the background rather than being a statement piece. When used in this way they become complementary to the statement plant(s).
The small leaves and soft colour palette of Corokias is great for adding both depth and texture to a planting. This is especially so when using varieties that tend to have more stem than lead exposed such as
They can be included in most garden styles with ease and make for an exciting addition. Explore The Plant Company's range of Corokia varieties to find the one(s) that will suit your design needs!
Corokia are generally vigorous and establish quickly. Most will grow about 50-60 cm per year provided they are at least 30 cm tall when planted. Planting shorter plants will typically only give 30 cm of growth in the first year.
Corokia are usually trimmed during winter when used for hedging with about 10-15% of the plant material cut off. A good pair of secateurs is all you need for this task. They can be trimmed at other times of the year without issue.
Most Corokia will eventually reach between 2 m and 6 m tall if they are neither trimmed nor contained (as might occur if planted in a pot). The Plant Company has put a lot of effort into determining how big each variety will grow in an unrestricted environment. Far too often we see people planting a garden too densely and then having to spend a lot of time trimming or removing plants later. This is something we want our customers to avoid and we therefore provide size information for each variety listed so the planning can be right from the start. Be sure to check out our range and the detailed information that accompanies each of our Corokia varieties.
Choose a full sun position with good drainage and moderate shelter for your Corokia. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread shrub fertiliser on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.
There are specific articles to help you grow amazing Corokia:
Choose a full sun position with good drainage for your Corokia plant. The hole should be dug at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. A planting spade makes the hole digging a lot easier. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread that on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.
Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag or container, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. If the roots have been growing in a circle or are all bound up you can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. Similarly, you don’t need to remove any of the growing media. The Plant Company does not recommend cutting the roots, even if the plant is root-bound as this offers no benefit. This is explained in our article, Managing Rootbound Plants.
Now place the plant in the hole and make sure it is level with the soil surface before filling in around it. If it is above the soil surface, dig more out. If it is below, put in more soil and retest the level. Once the plant is set level with the soil surface, add more soil gradually and firm it around the plant using gentle pressure as you go. Scatter native plant fertiliser across the soil surface after planting and the give the plant a good watering.
Only potting mix should be used when plants are grown in a container. Often people will try and cut corners and use soil or mixes that contain both soil and potting mix with poor results. The same applies to when plants are potted up with compost as it holds too much moisture. Soil also contains weeds and tends to become compacted in a container, hence why it is not used in this manner. The Plant Company has nursery grade potting media which is pre-loaded with the correct amounts of fertiliser and micro-nutrients to keep the plant sustained with nutrition and actively growing for the next 12-months. After 12-months, simply add a couple fertiliser tablets to keep the plant fed for the next 12-months.
Soils rich in fertility and organic matter that are well-drained will produce amazing plants. The soil should be well prepared with either compost or sheep pellets mixed in at planting or spread on the soil surface after planting. It is important that the soil being planted into won’t restrict root growth and for this reason, clay soils are generally not well suited to Corokia. Clay soils also tend to be very wet which will negatively impact the performance of the plant. A little test that can be done is to dig the hole, fill it with water before the plant goes in, and leave it for 24-hours. If the water is still in the hole, you will need to address the drainage before planting.
Feeding your Corokia plants in spring with shrub fertiliser will replenish nutrients and keep them fed for 12 months. Liberal amounts of organic fertiliser can also be used. Ensure plants are watered regularly during dry periods to keep them flourishing.
Placing mulch around Corokia helps keep the soil moist and significantly reduces weeds. The Plant Company recommends an organic mulch is used as this breaks down over time to provide nutrients and improves the soil. It is also better for the environment than the plastic-based alternatives. Whatever type of mulch is used, it needs to be free draining so the soil can “breathe” and allow water to penetrate quickly and easily. Heavy rates of lawn clippings are therefore not a good option as they hold too much moisture. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommends stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes.
Compost is not considered an effective mulch as weeds germinate easily and it is only short lasting. It is, however, a very good method of adding organic matter to the soil and should be applied before the mulch is put down.
Corokia are best planted from mid-autumn until late spring. During this time, they can cope with the stresses associated with planting (root damage mainly) more easily than if they have to also cope with heat and moisture stress as well. They can be planted in summer provided they are well-watered and the roots have plenty of growing media attached when planted. If watering is a challenge, The Plant Company advises planting from late-autumn through until early-spring. Make sure you have a good planting spade to make this job a lot easier.
A full sun or partial shade position with good drainage is essential for getting the best results with Corokia. On poorly drained sites or with over-watering they tend to become stunted and sickly looking with leaves dropping. This can also cause and result in root rot issues that may eventually kill the plant if drainage is very poor. If you think this might be a problem for you, please refer to the article, Corokia Diseases.
As shade levels increase, Corokia tend to become “leggy” and more open in their growth habit. In full sun they tend to be more compact and denser which is particularly important if you are considering a hedge. The shaded option is more for standalone plants where density is less important. The position should also be moderately sheltered so fresh growth is not damaged by wind and this will help produce a better shaped plant overall. This is not essential as they can cope with wind. Where ever they are grown, make sure they have plenty of room to expand!
Caring for Corokia is about making sure the plants are growly strongly. Our plant care articles provide the necessary details to give you the greatest chance of success. Afterall, there is nothing worse than putting the effort into planting for them to fail. Therefore, follow our advice for Corokia care and give yourself the best chance of success.
The most important part starts with planting and our article, How To Plant A Corokia, provides sound advice on how to do this properly. So, let’s now assume your plant is growing well and you want to keep it that way!
Winter is the perfect time for mulching and trimming your plants. Trimming can be aggressive or subtle as you like. Typically, plants are trimmed to contain growth and encourage fresh, new foliage. Corokia will sprout away again no matter how hard they are cut back and provided the stem is healthy. Organic matter such as compost or sheep pellets should be spread liberally around the plants and then overlaid with a mulch during winter. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommend stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes. The Plant Company does not recommend adding fertiliser during winter as this is better applied in spring so less is wasted. However, adding organic matter such as compost is quite okay.
Spring is the perfect time for fertilising the plants as they start to bounce into life. The Plant Company has fertilisers which have been specially blended for different plants and in this instance, our native plant fertiliser will give them the correct boost and keep them fed for 12-months. A suitable alternative is our organic fertiliser which will also keep them well fed but they will require a secondary application in autumn.
Summer is when the plants need regular watering and this should be undertaken every second day on the hottest days. Plants that are establishing need particular attention as their root system will not have penetrated deep enough to secure consistent moisture yet.
Caring for Corokia in autumn is about keeping the plants healthy. Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken during spring, summer, and autumn if you have time but this is not essential if solid fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have already been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser won’t hurt.
Plants should be checked for pest or disease issues during spring, summer, and autumn. If anything is looking unusual, refer to our articles under Corokia Issues And Troubleshooting.
Corokia require good soil moisture during dry periods to stay fresh and keep growing actively. The Plant Company recommends a generous watering every second day during summer, or every third day if the soil is a bit heavier, especially while they are establishing. If the young stems start to droop, you need to water immediately. The Plant Company advises watering in the morning or in the evening for water conservation purposes. Please be sure to read the article, Corokia Diseases, as over-watering can have unintended consequences!
Even though Corokia are tolerant of dry periods they will still benefit from being watered. During those dry periods the plants will stop growing to preserve themselves. This is clearly not desirable if you are still wanting them to grow. They will start growing again once rain or water is provided.
Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.
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