Trees and shrubs

Brunfelsia latifolia, or "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow" is so named because its flowers open purplish blue and fades to white before dropping off. [more ...]

The cabbage tree is an icon of NZ, a large tree that grow unbranched until it flowers. The fragrant white flowers appear in the Spring, followed by tiny fruits much loved by birds. [more ...]

A genus of shruby plants of which a number of ornamental shrubs belong. It also contains an important food crop plant, tea (Camellia sinensis). [more ...]

Half-hardy short-lived perennial/annual grown for its unusual fruit that taste like a cross between a gooseberry, a tomato and a cherry! [more ...]

Chrysocoma ciliata is a low growing shrub that flowers in the spring. The small yellow daisy like terminal flowers are produced en-masse, smothering the plant. [more ...]

This large compact shrub is very tolerant of dry conditions. In early Spring, it is covered with pink flowers that last only one day, but are produced in profusion. [more ...]

A compact rounded shrub with fragrant flowers and leaves. The plant looks like a cross between a heather and a conifer. [more ...]

Dracophyllum is a genus of some 40 species found in New Zealand, Australia and New Caledonia. The branches have the appearance of a tuft of grass on top of long slender stems. [more ...]

A very popular fruit for the home garden that has red pohutukawa-like flowers. This evergreen shrub makes a good hedge. [more ...]

A much hybridised plant with thousands of registered hybrids. The flowers are usually bi-coloured, with a combination of red, cerise, pink, "orange", purple or white. [more ...]

The flowers on this small evergreen tree have creamy white petals and yellow stamens, looking for afar like eggs fried "Sunny side up". [more ...]

A genus of shruby plants that range from the tropics to temperate climates. The flowers have a characteristic central structure with five stigmas at the end and a number of stamens along its length. [more ...]

The common horse chestnut is a large deciduous tree that bears white / cream flowers in the spring, followed by large spiky fruits. Each fruit produces one large seed, traditionally used for the game of conkers. [more ...]

This rare hardy quick growing shrub is endemic to NZ. The large red pea blossoms appear from the second year onwards. [more ...]

Kerria japonica is a native of Japan and China. In the spring, it produces yellow flowers ahead of leaves. 'Pleniflora' is a sterile double form, the staments having been modified to become petals. [more ...]

The kowhai is the national flower of NZ. It welcomes spring with a burst of bright yellow flowers. [more ...]

This quick growing native tree produces white flowers, which feed bees to produce the famed Manuka honey. Cultivars have red / pink and/or double flowers. [more ...]

This relative of the edible banana produces dark pink flowers and small bananas that are full of seeds. [more ...]

Persimon has been cultivated in China and Japan for a long time. There are two types of fruit, astringent and non-astringent. The astringent variety contain tannins which make the fruit bitter unless well ripened. Non-astringent varieties have far less tannins and can be eaten while the fruit is still firm. [more ...]

This Australian upright shrub has alternate rows of opposite leaves, pretty much like Hebes. Terminal clusters of small pink appear in mid spring, followed by fluffy seed heads. [more ...]

Pohutukawa, the New Zealand Christmas tree, is an icon of coastal areas in Northern New Zealand. During Christmas, the tree is covered in masses of red flowers. [more ...]

This plant's claim to fame is its ability to fold its leaves close in response to touch. If touched with more force, the entire leaf will fold down. [more ...]

Pictures of stone fruit blossoms. [more ...]

This poisonous plant is food for the monarch butterfly caterpilars. [more ...]

Vietnamese mint is a half-hardy perennial, growing to 1m tall, and eventually forming a large clump. It is a water plant, often very happy in boggy ground. [more ...]