Growing plants in tough places

Callistemon Little John is a compact dwarf bottlebrush.

In Whanganui we have a number of areas with light sandy soils. These areas can at times require more thought to ensure plants are suitable to stand up to a drier and often windy environment. There are a number of plants that originate from hot dry climates of Australia and South Africa that are suited to these garden situations.
These include leucadendrons, protea, banksia, westringia, grevillea, lomandra and dianella.

There are also native trees and shrubs that thrive in dry conditions. The pohutukawa is certainly one of the most popular when a large tree is needed.

Pseudopanax is a New Zealand native which thrives in dry conditions with light soils. They have unusual and decorative leaves and are indispensible plants in garden plantings. They are generally hardy and grow freely in sun or shade and will grow under adverse conditions. The lancewood (Pseudopanax crassifolius) is a distinctive and extraordinary looking plant with a single, erect, very flexible stem from which long, leathery leaves hang out at odd angles. It is a dramatic plant which undergoes many changes throughout its life. A very popular variety is "Cyril Watson". It is prized for its lush tropical look, it has a bushy compact growing habit with thick leathery leaves. This plant is adaptable to many conditions and thrives in dry sunny situations once established.

Some smaller growing natives that perform well in the drier environment are the coprosmas. Coprosmas have many species that excel in dry, hot conditions. They also attract the birds with the berries that develop each year. The range of varieties is diverse with a number of colourfully leaved shrubs growing about 1m-1.5m high. One of the most popular of these is 'Inferno'.

Coprosma inferno was released in 2010. It quickly raced into the best sellers list. Its foliage colouring orange, red and pink during the summer months deepens dramatically as the weather turns cold with foliage changing to deep reds.
There are also a number of varieties with 'divaricating' type foliage. This is typified with small leaves on branches that have a tangled appearance. Coprosma acerosa is a good one to grow in the home garden with orange- brownish appearance that can be used to good visual effect when contrasted with other plants. It has a spreading habit, and is excellent for holding sand and banks together in harsh conditions.

Also to consider in the coprosma family are the groundcover varieties. Coprosma Hawera and Taiko varieties are excellent for covering banks or other areas in the garden where conditions are tough and a dense ground cover is required.

Bottlebrush (Callistemon) although not a native of New Zealand, it is a plant that thrives in dry, sunny areas of the garden. There are a number of varieties around, though there are three most commonly available and good for Whanganui gardens. Callistemon "Red Clusters" has stunning bright red flower spikes that cover the plant in abundance during spring and summer, though it usually has a few flowers on it throughout the year. This variety grows approximately 3m high.

Callistemon "Little John" is a compact dwarf growing bottlebrush. It only grows around 1m x 1m so is suitable for smaller gardens and shrub plantings. It is often used in traffic islands and other public areas where growing conditions are tough. It produces masses of deep red flower brushes tipped gold mainly through spring and early summer with occasional blooms almost year round.

Flaxes are useful in the dry environments and can form colourful structure to a garden. These look good when used with the smaller growing grass varieties. Species such as the mini toe toe and the brilliant orange foliaged Carex testacea provide excellent landscaping opportunities when used in groups of three, or in larger mass plantings, using the colours of the grasses to contrast against one another.
One must consider the use of Lomandra and Dianella. Lomandra grasses have come to the fore in New Zealand in the last five years. They are being recognised for their general hardiness, the attractive form and structure they can bring to a garden through movement in the wind, the range of colours that are available and the ease of care.
Lomandra grasses are generally 'self cleaning' meaning that old foliage shrivels and disappears from the plant rather than 'hanging on' and needing to be removed by hand for the plant to look good. Where many plantings have been made in the past with Carex type grasses the Lomandras are now being used to great effect with a much lower maintenance requirement.

A stand-out variety would have to be Lomandra White Sands. Lomandra White Sands was released in 2014 and this is the variety that has caught our attention the most. It has an eye catching soft appearance with its long thin strappy leaves that are margined white with a green centre. It looks spectacular with its leaves moving softly in the breeze, creating a white sandy look, from which its name is derived.
White sands handles full sun to part shade and grows approximately 80cm tall by 80cm wide.
As well as a garden specimen planted in groups of 3's or 5's or more, White Sands also is the perfect pot specimen. Being so drought tolerant it is great for the sunny patio or outdoor living area.

One of my favourites for coastal gardens is a dwarf variety of pohutukawa called Meterosideros Tahiti. This grows approximately 1m by 1m and has brilliant orange-red flowers during summer and into the autumn. It makes an excellent plant in the garden or in pots and handles tough conditions.

Another of the best performing small growing plants for dry areas is the 'Morning Glory' Convolvulus cneorum, not to be confused with the problem weed of the same name. This plant is not invasive, and offers almost year round colour. White trumpet flowers are 3-4cm across with bluish tingle, shaded yellow in the throat. It grows 60cm high by 1m wide, the foliage is a stunning silvery-grey.

There are many other plants that do well in the coastal and dry environment — ceanothus, rock rose, escallonia, feijoa and griselinia.

If you have a coastal garden or a garden that has dry areas, come and have a look in store at the garden centre — there is quite a variety of things that you can grow. Many of these plants are attractive to birds providing both flowers containing nectar as well as good foliage cover in which to nest as well as inhabit.
Gareth Carter is General Manager of Springvale Garden Centre.