Finding The Perfect Evergreen Tree In NZ!

Popular Evergreen Trees For New Zealand Gardens

New Zealand's vibrant landscapes offer a stunning backdrop for a diverse range of evergreen trees. Such trees provide year-round elegance, and become important for both the ecological benefits and natural beauty they afford. While we present a few of the popular options below, these are just a sample of The Plant Company’s range. If you want to see more, feel free to use our plant finder tool to find not just and evergreen tree, but also one that suits your climate, desired size, as well as a host of other attributes you can select. Beautiful options will be presented to you.

Popular NZ Native Evergreen Trees

• Pōhutukawa: This coastal icon bursts with fiery crimson blooms in summer, attracting native birds like the tui. Its wind-resistant nature makes it perfect for coastal areas.
• Kānuka: This drought-resistant tree brings fragrant honey-scented flowers and delicate foliage, adding texture and beauty to dry regions.
• Tōtara: Renowned for their majestic stature and wind-resistant qualities, tōtara features dark green foliage and edible berries enjoyed by native birds.
• Rimu: This graceful giant showcases reddish-brown bark and delicate foliage, offering shade and a majestic presence in larger gardens.
• Kauri: This stately tree is a grand master as far as NZ native evergreen trees.
• Kowhai: The bright yellow flowers will see Tui’s falling over themselves as they feast on the nectar in spring.

Colourful And Popular Evergreen Trees In NZ

• Magnolia and Michelia: These beautiful trees offer stunning blooms in various colors, from delicate pinks and whites to vibrant purples and reds. They prefer sunny spots and add a touch of elegance to any garden.
• Callistemon: These provide a dazzling display of bottlebrush-like flowers in early spring.
• Norfolk Pine: This iconic tree features symmetrical tiers of soft, green needles, adding a tropical touch to New Zealand gardens. It thrives in coastal areas and provides a striking focal point.
• Corymbia: These red-flowering gum trees afford amazing beauty in the landscape.

Small Evergreen Trees

There are many evergreen trees that remain small. However, small is very much open to conjecture as everyone has a different view on what small looks like and also noting that a tree can be kept small with trimming. Nonetheless, before we present a few a few of the popular options, let me take out some of the guesswork! The Plant Company has produced a fabulous plant finder tool and with this you can not only specify the size you want for the tree, but also find one that suits your climate, flower colour, and more by selecting different attributes. Beautiful options will be presented to you to make an informed selection.

Some popular small evergreen trees that thrive in New Zealand include:

• Kōwhai (Sophora microphylla): This native tree boasts stunning yellow flowers in spring and summer, bringing a burst of colour to your garden. It grows to around 5-8 meters tall and prefers well-drained soil and full sun.
• Michelia: These trees feature glossy green leaves and fragrant, white flowers in summer. It matures to around 4-6 meters tall and is perfect for smaller gardens or providing shade near patios.
• Magnolia ‘Little Gem’: This small tree features glossy green foliage and beautiful, white flowers.
• Karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatus): This iconic native tree features glossy green leaves and large, orange fruits (inedible to humans but enjoyed by birds). It grows to around 8-15 meters tall and is best suited for larger gardens. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun.
• Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium): This versatile native shrub or small tree offers fragrant white flowers in summer and attracts beneficial insects. It comes in various cultivars with different foliage colours and grows to around 2-5 meters tall. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and full sun to partial shade.
• Pohutukawa (Metrosideros sp.: These coastal, NZ native tree features glossy green leaves and clusters of red flowers in summer. They grow to around 4-8 meters tall (depending on the variety).
• Syzygium are becoming increasingly popular as ornamental trees in NZ. Their vibrant new foliage which is bright red, set against older, dark green leaves makes for a beautiful display.

These are just a few examples, and there are many other small evergreen trees available in New Zealand. When choosing a tree, consider your specific needs and preferences, such as desired size, etc, and be sure to use plant finder tool!

Evergreen Trees For Privacy

New Zealand boasts a diverse range of stunning evergreen trees that can provide valuable privacy for your garden. Whether you're looking for a towering hedge, a dense screen, or even a single statement piece, there's sure to be the perfect option for you. Here are some popular choices:

• Pōhutukawa (Metrosideros): This iconic coastal tree features vibrant crimson blooms in summer and thrives in windswept areas. Its dense foliage quickly creates a tall and effective privacy screen.
• Lilly Pilly (Syzygium): This fast-growing tree offers glossy green leaves and white clusters of flowers. It tolerates various soil types and readily responds to pruning, making it ideal for shaping into a dense hedge.
• Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium): This versatile native shrub or small tree comes in various cultivars with unique foliage colors and textures. Its dense growth creates an effective privacy screen while attracting beneficial insects to your garden.
• Thuja sp.: These conifers provides dense, columnar growth that's perfect for creating tall, narrow privacy screens.
• Karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatus): This iconic native tree features glossy green leaves and large, orange fruits (inedible to humans but enjoyed by birds). Its dense foliage provides privacy, but its larger size is best suited for spacious gardens.
• Kōwhai (Sophora microphylla): This native tree bursts with stunning yellow flowers in spring and summer, adding a delightful pop of colour to your privacy screen. However, its moderate growth requires more patience compared to fast-growing options.

Remember to consider your specific needs and preferences when choosing your evergreen privacy tree. The Plant Company recognises that finding the best screening plant can be a challenge. For that reason we produced an amazing plant finder tool and with this you can not only specify the size you want for the tree, but also find one that suits your climate, flower colour, and more by selecting different attributes. Beautiful options will be presented to you to aid your decision making process.

About The Plant Company

We’re passionate about plants, and our team is committed to helping you make your dream garden a reality. Our easy-to-use plant finder tool narrows down your options and can pair you with the perfect plant – simply filter your search according to garden style, usage, flower colour, flowering season, location, fragrance, natives, coastal conditions, and seasonality. If you’re not sure where to start or what exactly it is that you’re looking for, The Plant Company team is more than happy to help. We can talk you through your options and which plants are most suitable for your space according to your preferences and needs.