If you're looking to boost biodiversity on your land, planting native species is one of the most effective and sustainable methods. Native plants are perfectly adapted to local conditions and support local wildlife, making them a crucial component in maintaining and enhancing biodiversity. In this blog, we'll explore some of the best native trees, shrubs, and grasses to consider for your planting projects.
Best Native Tree Choices
Black Beech (Fuscospora solandri)
It is distinguished by its dark bark and glossy green leaves. Black Beech trees support rich biodiversity by providing honeydew, produced by scale insects that live on its bark. Honeydew is a vital food resource for bees, who support pollination in the ecosystem. Birds, such as tūī and bellbirds, also feed on the honeydew, benefiting from its high energy content. This tree also plays a crucial role in soil stabilisation and forest regeneration. Even after they die, the fallen logs and branches of the dead beech trees create microhabitats for a variety of organisms. Insects, fungi, and mosses colonise these decaying materials, contributing to the forest's biodiversity. The dead wood also offers shelter, nesting material and breeding sites for birds and other local wildlife.
Best suited for:
- Lowland and upland forest
- Alpine areas
- Grows naturally in cool forests from the Bay of Plenty and down to Canterbury.
Kōwhai (Sophora microphylla)
Kōwhai trees are renowned for their beautiful yellow flowers that bloom in early spring. These flowers are a vital nectar source for native birds such as tūī and bellbirds. Kōwhai flower nectar attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. This pollination process is crucial for the reproduction of Kōwhai and helps support the broader ecosystem by ensuring the propagation of various plant species. The presence of pollinators also benefits other plants in the vicinity that rely on insect pollination. By incorporating Kōwhai trees into your planting projects, you can create a vibrant and diverse habitat for the living creatures, microorganisms and other elements that create a healthy biodiverse environment.
Best suited for:
- The South Island, also known as ‘South Island Kowhai’
- Not found as much in the northland and even less in Northland or the North Island’s East Coast
Pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa)
Often referred to as the New Zealand Christmas tree due to its striking red flowers that bloom around December, Pōhutukawa is a quintessential coastal tree. It thrives in sandy, rocky soils typical of coastal environments and has a high tolerance against salt spray and wind. The Pōhutukawa provides important habitats and food for a range of bird species, including tūī and bellbirds, which feed on its nectar. Its extensive root system helps stabilise coastal soils and prevent erosion, making it a vital component of coastal ecosystems.
Best suited for:
- Warmer climates, especially the upper half of the North Island, above New Plymouth and Gisbourne
- Warmer micro-climates around the top of the South Island
Top Native Shrub Options
Coprosma robusta (Karamū)
Karamū is a resilient, fast-growing shrub distinguished by its small, leathery leaves. Coprosma robusta can grow up to 6m in height and in late summer the shrub produces masses of orange berries that are a valuable food source for birds such as the tui and the kereru. These birds aid in seed dispersal, which helps in plant regeneration and maintaining plant diversity. It is a great plant for restoring native biodiversity as it competes well with gorse and creates a shelter while other plants establish, much like Kanuka.
Best suited for:
- Most coastal and lowland areas of NZ, it is found throughout both North and South Island and even on the Chatham Islands.
Pittosporum eugenioides (Tarata, Lemonwood)
Pittosporum eugenioides is a fragrant shrub that contributes to biodiversity in multiple ways. The flowers produce nectar that attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies, while its seeds and berries serve as food for birds, aiding in seed dispersal. As a native species, lemonwood plays a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance and health, contributing to soil stabilisation, nutrient cycling, and enhancing plant diversity.
Best suited for:
- Both North and South Islands, it is found naturally occurring in both
- Coastal to subalpine sites
Kanuka (Kunzea ericoides)
Kanuka is a native New Zealand shrub or small tree. It is a hardy, fast-growing pioneer species that establishes quickly on degraded land, providing a protective canopy for other native plants, which promotes ecological succession and increases biodiversity. Kanuka forms dense thickets that offer shelter and nesting sites for birds, insects, and other wildlife, creating vital habitats that support animal populations. Its nectar-rich flowers attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and native birds, all of which are crucial for plant reproduction and diversity. Through interactions with these fauna, Kanuka facilitates seed dispersal of other native plants, enhancing plant diversity across the restored land. Furthermore, Kanuka plantings can serve as ecological corridors, connecting fragmented habitats and allowing animal movement, which increases genetic diversity and resilience.
Best suited for:
- Bright open spaces, it is hardy so can handle conditions around most of NZ.
- Is a better nurse crop (than Manuka) in the South Island as it can handle a wider range of climates and moisture.
Great Native Grasses
Carex secta
Carex secta, or swamp sedge, is a cornerstone species in wetland ecosystems, providing a multitude of benefits. Its dense tussock offers nesting sites for wetland birds like pūkeko and fernbirds, contributing to the biodiversity of wetland habitats. Furthermore, Carex secta's extensive root system helps improve water quality by filtering pollutants and stabilising sediment thereby enhancing the overall health of wetland environments and supporting the myriad species that call them home.
Best suited for:
- Any wetter area of NZ, thrives beside wetlands, both coastal and montane.
Austroderia richardii (toetoe)
Austroderia richardii, also known as toetoe or cutty grass, is a native New Zealand grass species that plays a significant role in supporting biodiversity. Their dense tussocks and tall flowering stems create a microhabitat that supports a wide range of species by providing essential shelter and nesting sites for various birds, invertebrates and insects. In wetland areas, the root systems of toetoe can stabilise banks and create sheltered aquatic environments, benefiting our native fish and eels. As a native species, this common grass plays a role in maintaining the natural balance and resilience of New Zealand ecosystems. It grows in diverse plant communities, fostering a high level of plant biodiversity and helping prevent the dominance of invasive species that can disrupt biodiversity.
Best suited for:
- South Island, as it is rarely found naturally in the North Island.
- Wetlands, along banks, lakesides
- Abundant from the coast to subalpine environments in the South Island
Chionochloa rubra (Red Tussock)
This red tussock is a great choice for use in the native restoration of the NZ high country, where other species find it hard to survive. It can grow in dry, harsh environments that are often freezing in winter and very hot in summer meaning it can provide shelter all year round. Native animals such as the Southern Alps Gecko and other lizard species would use the cover of the tussock to hide from predators and extreme weather.
Best suited for:
- Alpine and Subalpine areas of the South Island
Planting native trees, shrubs, and grasses is a powerful way to enhance biodiversity on your land. These plants not only support local wildlife by providing food and habitat, but they also improve soil health, prevent erosion, and contribute to the overall resilience of the ecosystem. By choosing species that are well-adapted to your local conditions, you can create a thriving, sustainable environment that benefits both the native biodiversity of your land and New Zealand as a whole.
Get in touch with Fergus to discuss how your native biodiversity needs can be helped by planting native plants. He’s here to help with another successful project! Email [email protected] .