Ireland's record against the giants of world rugby is not good (played 28, lost 27 drawn 1) so I got to thinking, what have the New Zealanders ever done for us? Well in terms of our gardens quite a lot actually, and very glad about it I am too.
80% of New Zealand's native flora is endemic, that is to say found naturally nowhere else. From this amazing fact it sound like these plants are shy species, rarely seen. Think again because I can guarantee that you see some these plants everyday. Through squinted eyes Ireland and New Zealand are really quite similar in looks and weather conditions despite being half a world apart. No surprise then that many of their exports do so well here.
Griselinia littoralis must make up 50% of all the hedges planted in Ireland. Massively sucessful, effective, easily grown and evergeen. Few plants make a better hedge but I prefer this plant grown as a large shrub. Left unpruned it will grow to four metres or more and makes a magnificent high screen. Large specimens can be found in the west of Ireland in some of the older gardens where they were planted as individuals before their hedging epidemic caught on. Griselinia 'Variegata' has white/cream through the green leaves and is a very effective contrast and winter plant.
Cordyline australis [Cabbage palm] despite its name comes from New Zealand. This is the spikey palm tree conspicuous in so many front gardens around the country. Its constant foliage rustle tells you it's in the vicinity before you've even see it. As does the fragrance from the huge clusters of sweetly scented summer flowers .
Phormium, helpfully named New Zealand flax, is another plant that resides in many Irish gardens. Like a lot of New Zealand plants it is very effective in coastal areas. Many cultivars or named varieties have been raised from the two species P. tenax and P. cookianum and as hybrids between the two. All have sword like foliage in colours of pink, red, purple, cream and yellow.
Pittosporum tenuifolium and its many variegated cultivars are also common to our gardens. Their dainty evergreen foliage is great for flower arranging and lovely as a soft contrasting plant in borders. Pittosporums are useful as large evergreen screening plants as is Hoheria sexstylosa with a narrow foliage and a profusion of white flowers in August. Olearia macrodonata [New Zealand holly] also falls into this category having glaucous holly like leaves and daisy flowers.
Leptospermum scoparium apart from being a beautiful flowering garden shrub is also the source of the well known manuka honey that's is supposed to have so many health benefits. Garden cultivars include 'Pink Cascade' , Red Damask' and 'Snow White'
The vast majority of Hebes started of life in New Zealand although today they have been so cultivated their ancestors have been forgotten. Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea' is a much under used soft purple foliaged evergreen giving lovely movement in a planting scheme. Astelia chathamica, Sophora microphylus, Clianthus puniceus, Libertia x grandiflora, Myosotidium hortensia. The list, as they say, literally goes on.
