Fiona Eadie, author of 100 best Native Plants for NZ Gardens

Liam Butler interviews Fiona Eadie author of 100 best Native Plants for New Zealand Gardens.

01 October 2014

For the past 12 years Fiona Eadie has been head gardener at Larnach Castle, whose gardens are internationally renowned. Her book '100 best Native Plants for New Zealand Gardens' $45www.randomhouse.co.nz features inspirational and practical advice on 100 species that are easy to grow and maintain, across a range of climates. Photos by Yvonne Cave

Question One

Having native plants in gardens allows people to remember fun times in our great outdoors. What are a couple of the most popular native plants that people can by for under $25?

As with most things in life, there is no one answer. For me, one of the great delights about returning to the bottom of the South Island, was that I would be able to grow our alpine plants; nigh on impossible in Auckland (where I had resided for the previous 18 odd years). For some it would be the tree ferns of our forests, smaller plants of which are available from most good retail outlets - they are iconic New Zealand plants. While for those in the far north with boats it may be that they saw Poor Knights lily in flower on the rocks of the aforementioned island or the Marlborough rock daisy along the Kaikoura coast.

As for price, well it just depends on how patient one is, small plants are available, and then you have the added delight of watching them grow and develop, slowly making their mark in the overall design of your garden.

Question Two

As an experienced nurserywoman what do you think are a couple of simple things recreational gardeners can do that will make their native garden flourish that they may not have considered?

What we need to remember is that New Zealand native plants are still just plants and hence will require the same love, care and attention as all the other plants within your garden. Too often people say to me ‘I love our natives because they are so easy to look after.' In many ways though this is not true. Yes they are used to our soils, but the soils that existed before mankind came to our fair shores. The soils were rich and healthy and the plants thrived. It is not the same today. Ensure that plants that prefer a moist and/or rich (fertile) soil, always have a good layer of organic mulch over the soil surface (keeping it well away from the trunks of woody plants). Also ensure, again as with any plant, that you have the right environmental conditions for your chosen species. For example, if your soils become water logged in winter select a species that will be tolerant of these conditions, never consider planting something kaka beak (Clianthus spp.)as they will simply succumb to root rot. The old maxim ‘right plant, right spot', is as true today as it ever was.

Question Three

For people who do not have a green thumb what are some hardy yet pretty native plants they should try?

This is so dependent on where you reside within New Zealand, what your prevailing weather conditions are. I always say that for potted (or containerised) plants you can never go past pohutukawa, Poor Knights lily, Astelia banksii, puka (Griselinia lucida or even Meryta sinclairii), these little gems will survive the neglect that most will not, even Elingamita sinclairii is wonderful for this. I know this from my own experience - yes, I am not always great at remembering to water plants and these guys just simply keep trucking on

Question Four

Flax plays an important role in our heritage. How can people grow flax in a way that it looks good in small gardens?

Firstly, there are so many cultivars out there now that one can find one to suit almost any garden, both in size and colour.

Secondly, ensure that the area is not too shady (gets sun for at least half the day) and the soil conditions are not too wet, especially for many cultivars.

Thirdly, give them a tidy up once a year, winter is a good time. Remove all the dead leaves and cut each fan back to 3 -5 leaves. Below is an excerpt the Christchurch City Libraries, explaining the philosophy behind Maori flax harvesting. By doing this you will always have a lovely tidy looking flax, it also ensures good air flow hence minimising disease issues and it tends to control their spread. I also remove completely any fans that have flowered this helps keep the inside open.

Understanding the harakeke bush

M?ori speak about the harakeke bush as a wh?nau (family group). Harakeke grows in a fanlike pattern the rito or ‘baby' leaf at the centre of the fan is identified as a tamaiti ‘child' and the ?whi rito ‘parent' leaves which flank it on either side are the guardians. This group of leaves is never taken. Only the leaves third or preferably fourth from the centre, considered as the tupuna ‘grandparent' leaves, are cut.

This way the whakapapa of the plant is protected because the rito ‘baby' and its ?whi rito ‘parents' are retained to produce further ‘generations' of growth - through sustainable harvesting the plant will continue to flourish. The wh?nau share common roots and derive strength and stability from forming part of a larger whole.

From: http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/maori/plants/harakeke/

Question Five

What is your favourite native plant suitable for gardens and why?

People always want to ask this but it is so dependent, as I have said, on where you are in New Zealand and what your particular environmental conditions are. There is also, of course, the factor of how much space you have. This is one of the great things of moving around our countryside different areas different plants, not only north to south, but also coastal to our alpine areas.

I love all the plants within this book, but I guess I am especially fond of those that many consider ‘slightly odd', but these to me our what epitomises NZ natives, we do not have a lot of species with large showy flowers but we do have a wonderful range of plants with wonderful structure - living sculptures.

In this class I place: our sword-toothed lancewood (Pseudopanax ferox), all our native brooms, all the cabbage tree species and their cultivars, the Dr. Seuss-like grass trees (Dracophyllum spp.), spear grasses (Aciphylla spp.), weeping mapou (Myrsine divaricata) ..... and so I could go on. And then there is all our wonderful fern species ...... where does one stop.

Question Six

Do you have any that you are not so keen on? Why?

Yes I am not a complete native fanatic, there are some that well, I could quite happily do without - strangely enough they are not within this book!

Muehlenbeckia australis is a native vine species that takes great delight in scrambling up shrubs and small trees, and in many ways, seems to almost strangle the living delights out of its support structures, namely the trees branches to which it is attached. It is difficult to control and is a major weed in Dunedin. It has its place in the big wide world of NZ flora, but ‘not in my backyard', so to speak. What else? Residing in Dunedin at present, I have decided that even though I like rangiora (Brachyglottis repanda) as a species, it is almost becoming an invasive weed in our area. So much so that the Dunedin City Council is in the process of trying to eradicate it from the Town Belt, that runs through the city. It is native to the Dunedin area but that has not stopped it thinking that it cannot take control of the vegetation that was in residence before it arrived. It is like most things right plant right spot!

It all comes down to selecting the plants that are suited to your area, I am starting to sound like a stuck record, but it is so important and, in some cases, it may come down to selecting the right cultivar even. For example, pure Pittosporum tenuifolium grow too quickly in Auckland, so require regular pruning to retain a tight habit, while in cooler parts of the country they retain that wonderful tight habit with virtually no maintenance. Which is where cultivars come in, Pittosporum ‘Golf Ball' and P. Tenuifolium ‘Mt Green' both retain a nice tight habit in Auckland's warmer conditions. The big thing is, just like any plant selection, a little thought beforehand about what you are trying to achieve with your plants, knowing a little about them and, knowing your environmental conditions, goes a long way to creating your own living sculpture, your garden.

More about 100 best Native Plants for New Zealand Gardens.

From trees to ground covers, ferns to hebes, an expert guide to the top 100 New Zealand native plants for gardens.

Since its first publication, this book has been an indispensable guide for gardeners wishing to use New Zealand plants. Now extensively revised, it lists each plant's likes and dislikes and gives sage advice for care and maintenance and for combatting pests and problems. It suggests how your soil can be best prepared for maximum growing results and gives creative landscaping tips for combining textures and forms to maximum effect. Engagingly written by the head gardener at Larnach Castle, whose gardens are world-renowned, it deserves a place on every gardener's book shelf.

A bit more about Fiona Eadie. Fiona was born and raised in Dunedin and completed a BSc in Botany at Otago University. On completion of her degree she and her partner moved to Auckland, where she spent four years undertaking native forest research with the Forest Service and then DOC, a few years managing a delicatessen and eleven years managing the famous Oratia Native Plant Nursery.In 2001 they headed back to their beloved South Island, closer to the 'paddock' they had bought just out of Alexandra. They live in Dunedin, and for the past 12 years Fiona has been head gardener at Larnach Castle, whose gardens are internationally renowned.
She also teaches horticultural apprentices throughout New Zealand and has a regular column in Commercial Horticulture, where she teaches readers about the wonders of plants, and a gardening slot on Radio Live.
As she says, ' I love plants, and within plants, my largest passion is with New Zealand natives.'

To enter the draw to win a copy of this book CLICK HERE Competition closes 15th october 2014.

Open to NZ residents only.

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