NZ is home to some of the most beautiful and unique native trees in the world. These trees are not only a sight to behold but also play a crucial role in the ecosystem by providing habitat and food for native wildlife, including bees. If you’re looking to add greenery to your garden you’ve found the right place!
The Plant Company has a wide range of New Zealand native trees suited to a whole host of different circumstances and functions. These series of articles looks at the different options so you can get the right New Zealand native trees for your space!
Evergreen trees are a popular choice for those who want year-round foliage. These trees retain their leaves throughout the year, providing consistent greenery and shelter. The most well-known of the evergreen NZ native trees is the Kauri. Known for its impressive size and longevity, the Kauri is a symbol of strength and endurance in New Zealand forests.
Another favourite tree is the Kowhai, which is not only evergreen but also produces stunning yellow flowers that attract native birds and bees. The Kowhai's vibrant blooms make it a standout choice for any garden looking to support local wildlife.
There are a vast number of evergreen NZ native trees and far too many to list out here, particularly as they come in all shapes and sizes. The Plant Company has a tool that enables you to find a suitable tree for your location. Using our plant finder tool, simply tick the boxes for NZ native, evergreen, trees, and your location and options will be presented to you. You can further limit the options by turning on more of the filters. Failing that, feel free to contact us.
When looking for fast-growing native trees, several species stand out. They are often chosen for their ability to establish quickly, aesthetics, and hardiness. Here are a few notable examples:
Kānuka (Kunzea ericoides):
Manuka (Leptospermum):
Hoheria (Lacebark):
Coprosma robusta (Karamū):
Ribbonwood (Plagianthus regius):
Each of these trees brings a unique element to your garden, whether it's colour, structure, or wildlife support. If you are looking for more options, our plant finder tool makes it easy. Simply tick the boxes for NZ native, trees, the heights of interest, and your location, and options will be presented to you. You can further limit the options by turning on more of the filters.
When discussing NZ native palm trees the focus is primarily on one unique species, theNikau Palm, Rhopalostylis sapida. This is New Zealand's only native palm species and is noted for being the southernmost naturally occurring palm in the world. It is found in coastal and lowland forests, primarily in the North Island and the northern parts of the South Island. They are slow-growing and are culturally significant. They were used by Maori for thatching, weaving, and food.
While there are other Palm trees grown in New Zealand, they are introduced, not native. So, when you hear about native palm trees in NZ, it's almost always referring to the iconic Nikau Palm.
The NZ Native Pepper Tree is Kawakawa. Not only is it visually striking with its heart-shaped leaves and peppery aroma, but it also holds cultural significance in NZ. Kawakawa is often used in traditional medicine, and its leaves can be brewed to make a soothing tea. Including this tree in your garden not only enriches your space aesthetically but also connects you to New Zealand's rich cultural heritage.
The Plant Company has one of the largest databases of NZ native plants in the country and it is a fantastic resource for photos of NZ native trees. We endeavour to provide high-quality images of not only trees we have available but also of those we can source.
NZ has several native trees with striking red flowers, but the most iconic are:
Other red flowering species include:
All these trees play vital roles in New Zealand's ecosystems, providing nectar for native birds and contributing to the country's unique natural beauty.
There are a number of NZ native trees that attract bees. Definitely the most well-known tree for bees is the Manuka tree. They produce small white flowers that are highly attractive to bees. Similarly, the Rewarewa tree, also known as the New Zealand honeysuckle, produces rich nectar that is a favourite with bees.
A sample of the more prominent NZ native trees for bees is listed below. Clicking on the link will take you to images and a wealth of detail for the particular plant.
As you can see, the list of NZ native trees that attract bees is quite extensive, and remember, these are just the most popular. There are shrubs and perennials that also attract bees too!
The Plant Company is a great supporter of planting trees that can help sustain bee populations while adding beauty of our landscape. We all need NZ native trees and the bees they attract for maintaining biodiversity and encouraging pollination to keep the populations growing.
If privacy or wind protection is your goal, consider planting NZ native trees that are ideal for screening. Some popular options include:
There are a vast number of NZ native trees that can be used for screening. If you want more, use our [plant finder] tool. Simply tick the boxes for NZ native, trees, the heights of interest, and your location, and options will be presented to you. You can further limit the options by turning on more of the filters.
Identifying NZ native trees can be a challenge and at the time of writing this, the aps in Google and the like are generally only 50% accurate. However, they do give you a good start to point you in the right direction. Once you have the start point, find the genus in our latin name section and start matching from there. The Plant Company has one of the largest databases of NZ native plants in the country and it is a fantastic resource for identifying NZ native trees.
The most popular NZ native trees to consider for your garden or landscape include:
Each of these trees brings a unique element to your garden, whether it's colour, structure, or wildlife support. If you are looking for more options, our plant finder tool makes it easy. Simply tick the boxes for NZ native, trees, the heights of interest, and your location, and options will be presented to you. You can further limit the options by turning on more of the filters.
Not everyone has the space for towering trees, but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on the beauty of NZ natives. Small native trees such as the Karo and other Pittosporum species are perfect for compact gardens. These trees offer lush foliage and are relatively easy to maintain.
There are a vast number of evergreen NZ native trees and far too many to list out here, particularly as they come in all shapes and sizes. The Plant Company has a tool that enables you to find a suitable tree for your location. Using our [plant finder] tool, simply tick the boxes for NZ native, trees, the heights of interest, and your location, and options will be presented to you. You can further limit the options by turning on more of the filters. Failing that, feel free to contact us.
A sample of the most popular small NZ native trees are listed below. In general, small is described as being 5 m tall or less for these selections:
The Plant Company specializes in growing and sourcing NZ Native plants. We appreciate that buying online is somewhat of a leap of faith, given you are putting your trust in us. Please rest assured that we only ship plants that we would happily buy and plant ourselves. Trust in The Plant Company to supply your NZ native tree needs and allow us to impress you both with our quality and service. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are good at what we do!
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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