The kowhai is perhaps one of New Zealand’s most well-known trees. It is a member of the Sophora genus (pronounced SOFFor-uh) which is name that comes from an old Arabic name for a tree with a pea like flower. There are in fact eight distinct species all of which are endemic to New Zealand. Each […]

The Maori name koromiko is generally used for members of the Hebe genus which includes over 80 species adapted to a range of habitats while countless hybrids and cultivars are popular garden plants. A range of natural wild species occur in Taranaki in alpine, lowland and coastal locations.  We have been propagating two coastal Hebe […]

We were very fortunate with the weather at our second planting event this year; this time at Maitahi Scientific Reserve near Okato. The children worked enthusiastically and carefully planting out over 50 koheriki (Scandia rosifolia) in various locations at the reserve. Koheriki  has a current conservation status of ‘Threatened- Nationally Critical’ so these plants all […]

The nīkau palm is probably one of the most distinctive, fascinating, and easily recognized plants in the New Zealand bush; and is in fact the most southerly occurring palm in the world. The biggest of the nīkau in our school gardens were planted by Moturoa School children on Arbor Day 2002 and flowered for the […]