Plant of the Month :

Once a month we will highlight a plant that is both suitable and stylish for the traditional Auckland garden. This month our plant is :

Petunia

Occasionally I find an old favourite that becomes not only fashionable again, but breathes new life into a contemporary world. The Petunia is one such plant. A South-American native with over 35 species, this gorgeous perennial flowering plant can enlighten a space with it's elegant foliage and funnel shaped petals. It can be used as either a specimen plant in designer pots or mass planted to create a sophisticated structured feel. An easy plant to maintain that will reward you with an abundance of colour, this little gem is certainly a plant I will use more of in my future designs.

Plant of the Month :

Once a month we will highlight a plant that is both suitable and stylish for the traditional Auckland garden. This month our plant is :

Cupressus sempervirens : Totem

This elegant upright specimen tree will bring that ever important touch of traditional grandeur to any Auckland garden. This tall beautiful form of Italian cypress boasts deep rich green foliage that is conical in shape, reaching to around 4m in height. Though tall in stature, Cupressus sempervirens : Totem  requires little space to grow while being very easy to maintain.  A wonderful addition for those formal structured designer gardens. 

Plant of the Month :

Once a month we will highlight a plant that is both suitable and stylish for the traditional Auckland garden. This month our plant is :

Ilex crenata : Japanese Holly

This beautiful low hedging plant is a perfect alternative to the traditional Buxus sempervirens. A native to the shores of Japan, Korea and eastern China, this elegant evergreen shrub boasts dark glossy green leaves that can bare small black fruit up to 5mm in diameter. Small white four lobed flowers can grace this plant too if the conditions are right.

Ideal as a low forming formal hedge or as a quintessential elegant standard, this plant will certainly be gracing Auckland's more illustrious designer homes in the very near future. Easy to maintain and with style to match, the Ilex crenata is a plant destined for greatness. 

Plant of the Month :

Once a month we will highlight a plant that is both suitable and stylish for the traditional Auckland garden. This month our plant is :

Ginkgo Biloba : Dwarf Maidenhair

I have always thought the Ginkgo was a wonderfully decorative tree. Gorgeous soft foliage that transforms from vibrant lime green in the warmer months to a golden yellow in autumn. But like many deciduous specimens, it is essential you think about positioning them in the right location and with plenty of space.

Not anymore.......

A new miniature version has graced our gardens here in New Zealand, and while originating here, has become popular the world over. With all the magnificence of its parent but with a smaller and more manageable stature, the Ginkgo Biloba can now find a home in gardens around Auckland.

Plant of the Month :

Once a month we will highlight a plant that is both suitable and stylish for the traditional Auckland garden. This month our plant is : 

Rosa : 

Carpet roses are a great source of form and colour for the traditional English garden. With a vast array of colours and styles available, they can be a devine point of difference for those contemporary gardens wanting a sophistication to its layout. This versatile plant can be potted as a dramatic feature, planted as a standard, or mass planted to form a sea of colour. 

Easy to maintain and with amazing aromas, the Carpet rose is a wonderful choice for your Auckland garden. 

Plant of the Month :

Once a month we will highlight a plant that is both suitable and stylish for the traditional Auckland garden. This month our plant is : 

Pratia puberula : 

One of my favourite perennial groundcovers is the Pratia puberula. This elegant low lying evergreen plant is a designer's delight. It creates a soft thick mat of bright green foliage, with a stunning yet delicate display of small white or blue flowers from spring through to autumn. It requires a little maintenance while it gets established, but it will reward you with an amazing show. Preferring a semi shaded area, this relatively new native to Australia and New Zealand will add that subtle sense of sophistication to your garden area.

Plant of the Month :

Once a month we will highlight a plant that is both suitable and stylish for the traditional Auckland garden. This month our plant is : 

Acer platanoides : Norwegian Maple

If large expansive gardens are presenting you with a planting dilemma, then this gorgeous Norwegian Maple is a first class choice from which to begin. This deciduous gem is found right across eastern and central Europe, and is one of my personal favourites of the Acer family. This tree can reach well over 20 meters in height and will create an elegant backdrop to your Auckland garden setting. Large five lobed green leaves dress this tree, turning yellow in the autumn months. Bright yellow-green flowers burst throughout spring before the new leaves emerge. In its native conditions, the Norwegian Maple can live up to 250 years.

It does require light pruning to ensure a strong upright tree in its later years. Perfect as a specimen tree or as a grand laneway planting, the Acer platanoides is quite simply....beautiful!  

Plant of the Month :

Once a month we will highlight a plant that is both suitable and stylish for the traditional Auckland garden. This month our plant is : 

Hakonechloa macra : Japanese temple grass

If organised chaos is what you enjoy to see in your Auckland garden, then the Hakonechloa macra : Japanese temple grass is a fantastic choice. This free forming textured Phormium is extremely hardy and will tolerate a wide range of soil and atmospheric conditions. A native to Japan, this plant is perfect for structured pots that will create a dynamic array of colour to your Auckland garden area. Understated yet elegant, the Hakonechloa macra is a welcomed addition as a designer plant. 

Plant of the Month :

Once a month we will highlight a plant that is both suitable and stylish for the traditional Auckland garden. This month our plant is : 

Skimmia 'Japonica Rogersii' :

I recently discovered this little gem while researching plants for a new design, and was excited to view it first hand. This elegant flowering evergreen shrub boasts rounded glossy green leaves with scented flowers that range in colour from cream to white, followed by red fruit. Originating from south east Asia, this compact sophisticated plant tolerates a wide range of soil and weather conditions. Best suited as either an ornamental shrub or in mass planting, the Skimmia will add that exotic touch to your Auckland garden.

Plant of the Month :

Once a month we will highlight a plant that is both suitable and stylish for the traditional Auckland garden. This month our plant is : 

Murraya paniculata : 

This elegant tropical evergreen plant is native to southern China, Taiwan, the Indian sub-continent, south-eastern Asia and the northern regions of Australia. Small white scented flowers contrast the rich dark green foliage of this subtle beauty, which can be grown as either an ornamental tree or hedge. Murraya is closely related to the Citrus family and is itself, a wonderful addition to the tropical gardens of Auckland. Bearing small orange to red fruit resembling kumquats, this understated plant can add a sophisticated twist to your designer garden.