The search for the 'most favourite' New Zealand plants

Forest and Bird, Issue 310, 1 November 2003, Page 16

The search for the 'most favourite' New Zealand plants

IAN SPELLERBERG

RICHARD HUISH

IAN SPELLERBERG and RICHARD HUISH had some surprises when they asked New Zealanders to name their favourite trees and other plants.

native plants, what would be your answer and what would be your reason? A survey last year to find the 10 most popular plants in New Zealand produced some unexpected results and is to be conducted again, through Forest ¢ Bird this year. Based on a similar project carried out in Britain, by the conservation organisation Plantlife, the aim is to help raise a greater awareness of native plants. Last time, 260 entries were received from throughout New Zealand and one from Australia. The entries came from all ages including a 92-year-old lady who said she if you were asked to name your favourite

liked kowhai because of ‘it’s tracery of stems against a blue sky, then rows of dainty leaves on thin stems, followed by beautiful golden flowers’. As each entry arrived the 10 chosen plants were scored from 10 to 1 (10 for the person’s first choice and 1 for the tenth choice). Then total scores were calculated for each species. The project (supported by the Department of Conservation) was greeted with enthusiasm (‘neat project, ‘great initiative’) and many people said they were challenged but rewarded by the survey. Many responded to the invitation to give reasons for their choice. One comment made many times was that New Zealand native plants are so underrated as garden plants. A sample: ‘Only in the last five years have I begun to really appreciate how our natives can make wonderful forms in an urban garden. I hope to transform my garden into a native garden that reflects our fantastic diversity in plants. Another added: ‘New Zealand native plants are among the best in the world for companion planting, texture and colour. They sustain our wonderful bird life and need very little maintenance’. Some choices evoked happy childhood memories of walks in native bush or school exercises involving native trees. Occasionally native trees brought back memories of homesickness. Other people remembered their first work experience at native tree nurseries. Surprisingly, two well-known New Zealand plant emblems were absent from the popular choices. The silver fern and the Mt Cook lily are not in the top ten. Trees

rather than ferns or wildflowers dominated the list, from the ‘elegant, graceful, tall and stately rimu’ to the ‘majesty of old and proud kauri’. A few surveyed mentioned wildflowers. The orchids such as Pterostylis prompted comments such as ‘shy green orchidstheir fragile beauty of their flowers always amaze me’. The fragrant Alseuosmia was often mentioned and one person suggested that there should be whole fields of Alseuosmia. Rock daisies, rock lilies and buttercups were frequently mentioned. The few references to natives grasses was disappointing but the reference to the

significant role of native grasses in the landscape made up for that. Non-flowering native plants such as the seaweeds (particularly kelp) and liverworts were mentioned by just a few. As one person said in justification for liverworts: ‘I adore them. Comments and explanations for individual choices were many and varied; some poetic, some moving. With many thanks to all those who contributed, we would like to share these examples: Akeake: "Under-rated — has amazing flower bracts’. "Beautiful foliage, colour both vibrant and soft at once’. Beech trees: ‘the light plus the black trunks set against blue sky makes a mystical experience, ‘Grandeur of the South Island beech forests, "The sight of the mountain mists shifting through the hill sides of layered branches’. Cabbage tree: ‘handsome plant, ‘love the clacking sound of the leaves in the winter, ‘great social, cultural and ecological value. Carpodetus. putaputaweta, marble leaf: ‘I love the vibrant leaf colour. Dianella or turutu: ‘a real gem when a shaft of sunlight catches the brilliant blue berries. Dracophyllum, neinei: ‘the striking Dr. Zeuss plant, ‘this one gives me most pleasure. Flax: ‘Simmering displays in otherwise barren areas, "The perfect theatre for watching Tuis feed, ‘it has strength, ‘their history, uses and traditions, ‘so mathematical and tidy. Kowhai: ‘always a thrill to see that splash of colour, "Pureness of the colour of the flowers and it heralds spring. Lancewood: ‘Fierce and startling when young, intriguing when adolescent and stately when mature. Libertia: ‘wonderful form and colour, ‘such pretty plants.’ Manuka: ‘the coloniser and healer of the land, ‘En masse you can’t beat it for summery blossom with that heartland New

Zealand feeling, ‘great smell; ‘now a garden show piece. Marlborough rock daisy: ‘as the spring growth emerges it is like a flight of grey moths or butterflies hovering over dark greens leaves frosted with grey. "The petals radiate and cluster around a golden ball of stamens, just right for summer and Christmas.’ Mistletoe: ‘like a group of candles, they illuminate the dullest kanuka or manuka’. Muehlenbeckia: ‘So versatile and yet so underrated as a garden plant. Northern rata: "The stunning flowers, combined with bees buzzing about and birds taking shelter make for fantastic viewing, ‘What a perfect Christmas present from Mother Nature. Pohutukawa: ‘beach holidays, blue sky, old and knarled, ‘glorious blaze of colour’ ‘Adorable and symbolic — it should be used more often at Christmas, "To see their huge roots clinging to the banks and covering rocks gives on a feeling of forever and a day. Ponga: ‘so graceful, ‘so perfectly shaped, ‘ethereal form, ‘layers of symmetry, ‘I am lost in admiration, Puriri: ‘flowers and fruits all year with benefits to so many forms of our native wildlife, ‘I love the glossy leaves.’ The 2002 top ten native plant project prompted an enthusiastic response and for many people it brought back happy memories of place or childhood experience. However, the question was asked, is this a useful exercise and what contribution, if any, does it make to conservation? Some people (who didn’t contribute to the survey) were critical and considered such a survey to be of little value and indeed rather

eccentric. By way of contrast surveys of this kind in Britain have a huge response. Why don’t we celebrate our native plant heritage with as much enthusiasm. We remain convinced that the survey, if it were to be done again, perhaps annually, would contribute to a greater awareness and appreciation of our native flora. (See questionnaire in box).

is Director of the Isaac Centre

for Nature Conservation at Lincoln University, and

a visiting student from the University

of the West of England.

The Most Popular Plants The 2002 vote for the top ten New Zealand native plants rated them 1-10. 1. Pohutukawa 2. Cabbage tree 3. Kauri 4. Nikau palm 5. Kowhai 6. Rimu 7. Puriri 8. Flax 9. 1 Lancewood 0. Totara

What are your ten ‘most favourite’ New Zealand native plants and why? The Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation at Lincoln University is now conducting a further vote for the 10 ‘most favourite’ New Zealand native plants. This is an invitation to enter the 2003 draw for one of three prizes. To enter, simply write down a list of your 10 favourite native plants in order of preference (starting with your top favourite) and where possible give a brief explanation. The survey is supported by the Department of Conservation. Send your entry with your name and postal address to: The 2003 Top Ten Most Favourite Native Plants, The Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation, P.O. Box 84, Lincoln University, Canterbury. OR email your entry to Spelleri@lincoln.ac.nz (but please include your postal address — not email address). All entries go into a draw: the prizes are national garden vouchers to the value of: $250 (First Draw), $150 (Second Draw), $100 (Third draw). To be in the draw, entries must be made by December 20, 2003. Because of expected numbers, it is not possible to confirm or acknowledge every entry. The results for the top ten most favourite native plants and the winners will be announced in the February issue of Forest & Bird.