North Otago will be leafier for the gift of almost 200 trees to the Waitaki District Council.
The trees, some grown to 1.6m, have come from a cancelled export order to the United States and were offered by Duncan and Davies to local authorities throughout New Zealand free of charge if they would pay the freight from Tauranga.
The trees for the Waitaki council are worth about $9000.
There are about 10 species, including magnolias and Japanese maples.
The gift follows another of 190 rose plants by North Island rose nursery Matthews Nurseries Ltd.
Oamaru Gardensstaff yesterday started planting about 50 of the trees in the gardens.
Council property and parks manager Dougall McIntyre said the remainder would be planted in Palmerston, Hampden, Kurow and Omarama.
