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Dune Plants Species

 

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New Zealand coastal sand dune plants

Planting season for dune plants is roughly (depending on which coast) April to October, dune plants can be ordered to secure numbers before planting commences. If ordered before Christmas for the following year there is a price discount, and a discount also applies to those who send their own seed.

Plants can be grown to order or purchase as you need, in any container you require but we recommend Root-trainers (RTH &RTT) these are trays that encourage roots to go down the container instead of around, this gives an advantage when planting as plants are ready to go deep for sand moisture quickly.

Eco-sourcing is a huge part of our operation as we believe that there are regional differences in dune plant species this is evident in the Spinifex with the East and West sourced plants looking different even grown in the same conditions in the nursery situation.

Our foredune and back dune plant species include:

FORE DUNE PLANT SPECIES (Available to order or supply directly)

Dune Plants Spinifex Sericeus (Kowhangatara)

Spinifex sericeus - "Kowhangatara"
A native fore sand dune stabilising plant, hairy silver grey leaves which grow into long rhizomes trapping the sand

Available in one size only RTT priced from $3.40

Dune Plants Ficinia Spiralis (Pingao)

Ficinia spiralis - "Pingao"
A native fore sand dune stabilising plant, golden/orange leaves form on stiff tufts along runners on and under the sand. Used by Maori for weaving

Available two sizes RTH and RTT priced from $2.75 and $3.15 respectively

Dune Plants Poa Billardierei (syn Austrofestuca Littoralis) - Hinarepe or Sand Tussock

Poa billardierei (syn Austrofestuca littoralis)- "Hinarepe" or "Sand Tussock"
limited distribution throughout NZ, forms erect tufted clumps and compact crown, leaves are shiny golden green and sharply pointed.

Available in one size only RTT priced from $3.15


BACK DUNE PLANT SPECIES

Dune Plants Apium Prostratum (Native Celery)

Apium prostratum (Native Celery)
Edible glossy leaves looks a lot like a miniature celery or parsley, found on cliffs and banks in part shade. Small white flowers throughout the summer

Available two sizes RTH and 0.5L priced from $2.45 and $3.45 respectively

Dune Plants Apodasmia Similis (Oioi, Jointed Club Rush)

Apodasmia similis (Oioi, Jointed Club Rush)
A reed with fine grey/green leaves, with jointed intervals. Tolerates salty water and forms large clumps. Winter orange colouring can be very striking

Available two sizes RTT and 1L priced from $2.75 and $4.75 respectively

Dune Plants Carex Testacea (Speckled Sedge)

Carex testacea (Speckled Sedge)
An attractive bright orange clump forming grass, grows in full sun, needs sandy free-draining conditions. Long strains hold seed heads in summer, can be up to 2 metres long

Available in two sizes RTT, and 1L priced from $2.75, and $4.50 respectively

Dune Plants Coprosma Acerosa (Sand Coprosma)

Coprosma acerosa (Sand Coprosma)
A small scrambling shrub with yellow/green leaves, colouring can vary between locations some orange forms exist. Translucent pale blue berries in summer, needs open exposed locations to perform well

Available two sizes FPL and RTT priced from $2.95 and $2.95 respectively

Dune Plants Disphyma Australe (NZ Ice Plant)

Disphyma australe (NZ Ice Plant)
A creeping succulent with a sprawling habit, green/red leaves which are 3 angled. Flowers are white to deep pink in colour which open and close to the light levels. Tolerates very dry salty conditions often found on coastal cliffs, rocks and in salt meadows

Available in one size only 0.5L priced from $3.45

Dune Plants Euphorbia Glauca (Shore Spurge)

Euphorbia glauca (Shore Spurge)
Coastal plant with lush soft blue-green foliage with green/red stems. Spreads by rhizomes forming a loose clump, seeds pods pop open in the heat.

Available two sizes 0.5L and 1L priced from $3.75 and $4.75 respectively

Dune Plants Ficinia Nodosa (Wiwi, Knobby Club Rush)

Ficinia nodosa (Wiwi, Knobby Club Rush)
Long narrow wire like stems with a sharp point at the top, brown seed-heads protrude from one side of the stem. Prefers exposed wind swept areas, grows well in clay or sand , very versatile coastal plant as it tolerates almost all conditions.

Available two sizes RTT and 0.5L priced from $2.75 and $3.45 respectively

Dune Plants Lepidium Olearacerum (Cooks Scurvy Grass)

Lepidium olearacerum (Cooks Scurvy Grass)
Conservation status: Nationally vulnerable. A perennial herb with dark green to yellow-green aromatic leaves, tiny white flowers in spring. Found on coastal ledges and rocky out crops often near sea bird colonies. Eaten by Captain Cooks crew to help ward off scurvy.

Available in one size only 0.5L priced from $5.50

Dune Plants Melicytus Novae Zealandiae (Coastal Mahoe)

Melicytus novae zealandiae (Coastal Mahoe)
Excellent coastal shrub growing to 2-3 metres, very hardy to salt winds, good shelter/ hedging plant. Dark leaves oval waxy leaves, berries in summer range from bright purple to white. Can be clipped.

Available one size only 1L priced from $4.95

Dune Plants Muehlenbeckia Complexa (Wire Vine, Pohuehue)

Muehlenbeckia complexa (Wire Vine, Pohuehue)
Drought resistant wiry vine which provides an ideal coastal groundcover. Leave are small round to heart shaped but sometimes violin-shaped, small sweet smelling flowers in spring followed by a fleshy ice coloured cup with black seed in the centre.

Available two sizes FPL and 0.5L priced from $2.95 and $3.75 respectively

Dune Plants Ozothamnus Leptophylla (Cotton Wood)

Ozothamnus leptophylla (Cotton Wood)
Silvery coloured compact shrub with honey scented flowers in spring followed by fluffy -tailed seeds in summer. Grows to 1.5 metres

Available two sizes 0.5L and 1L priced from $4.50 and $4.95 respectively

Dune Plants Pimelea Villosa (Sand Daphne)

Pimelea villosa (Sand Daphne)
A low growing plant with a free flowering habit that has masses of white flowers followed by translucent crimson berries. Leaves are blue/ green and covered in tiny hairs. In the wild this plant is endangered with small pockets of plants found in localised back dune areas throughout the country.

Available one size only, 0.5L priced from $5.50

Dune Plants Sonchus Kirkii (Native Puha)

Sonchus kirkii (Native Puha)
A fast growing herb with large fleshy leaves, yellow flowers and fluffy - tailed seeds spread by wind. Limited distribution in the wild, found in open coastal situations.

Available one size, 0.5L priced from $3.45

Dune Plants Tetragonia Trigyna (Beach Spinach)

Tetragonia trigyna (Beach Spinach)
A fleshy succulent with a sprawling habit, stems often reddish. Leaves are green/red and heart-shaped, glistening with a hue It's found on sand dunes as well as gravel beaches and in rocky areas, flowers are yellow and are followed by dark red and fleshy seeds.

Available one size only 0.5L priced from $3.45

We are also able to propagate and supply native plant species that are commonly found up to 3 kilometres from the coast throughout New Zealand, including but not limited to, Flax, Pittosporums, Coprosmas, Puriri, Totora, Pohutukawa, Kanuka, Manuka, and Coastal wetland plants, Cabbage trees, Pseudopanax, Kowhais and many local rare and endangered plant species

 

> Use the Coastal Restoration Trust planting calculator


“Having purchased nearly 500,000 plants from Coastlands Native Plant Nursery I feel well qualified to comment on their performance. Jo, Wendy and the team provide exceptionally friendly, prompt and professional service, and the quality of their plants is second to none (especially the kowhangatara/spinifex). I have already recommended them to many others working on coastal restoration projects.”


Pim de Monchy, Coast Care Coordinator with Bay of Plenty Regional Council 2008-2012