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Plant Life

Home & GardenMarch 28

Seeds spread via many methods

Have you ever wondered about all the different kinds of fruit and seed? Why do kowhai have hard round yellow seeds and daisies have light, sometimes fluffy seeds?
Seeds spread via many methods
Seeds spread via many methods
Home & GardenMarch 16

Bottletrees can grow in cool climate

Most of Australia has a tropical climate, but a huge range of trees that we can grow outside, even in our cooler, temperate weather. These trees can give an exotic feel to our gardens, even when summer does not come to fruition.
Bottletrees can grow in cool climate
Bottletrees can grow in cool climate
Home & GardenMarch 9

Islands' biodiversity reflected in plant species

Among the many treasures in Dunedin Botanic Garden are some of the most rare and wonderful plant species in the flora of Aotearoa: the offshore island plants.
Islands' biodiversity reflected in plant species
Islands' biodiversity reflected in plant species
Home & GardenMarch 2

Flower displays at water garden

Against the fence at Dunedin Botanic Garden’s water garden blooms a stand of flowers that gracefully arch like a flock of slightly surprised, but curious geese, all looking in the same direction.
Flower displays at water garden
Flower displays at water garden
Home & GardenFebruary 23

Smoke bush a winner no matter time of year

In July last year I wrote a Plant Life article on the stunning smoke bush Cotinus ‘Grace’. It’s a cross between the European smoke bush Cotinus coggygria and the American form, Cotinus obovatus.
Smoke bush a winner no matter time of year
Smoke bush a winner no matter time of year
Home & GardenFebruary 16

Plenty to like, dislike

Sky flower, pigeon berry and golden dew drop are some of the common names for the shrub Duranta erecta. 
Plenty to like, dislike
Plenty to like, dislike
Home & GardenFebruary 9

A lot to offer

From an amenity horticulture point of view some plant families have a lot more to offer than others. 
A lot to offer
A lot to offer
Home & GardenFebruary 2

Rhodie rellies are plants of stature

Pieris, like rhododendrons, are in the Ericaceae family.  But unlike rhododendrons, which number more than 1000, there are only six different species of pieris.
Rhodie rellies are plants of stature
Rhodie rellies are plants of stature
Home & GardenDecember 15

Set aside time for garden

What to do in your garden this week.
Home & GardenDecember 8

Lush foliage adds to garden

Most gardeners are familiar with lady’s mantle, Alchemilla mollis, a herbaceous perennial often used as an edging to garden borders.
Lush foliage adds to garden
Lush foliage adds to garden
Home & GardenDecember 1

Spring perennial still enticing visitors

Pretty spring perennials are still enticing visitors to Dunedin Botanic Garden’s herbaceous borders.
Spring perennial still enticing visitors
Spring perennial still enticing visitors
Home & GardenNovember 24

Garden comes into its own

There's always something of interest at Dunedin Botanic Garden’s Clive Lister Garden, but it is at its prime in late spring and early summer.
Garden comes into its own
Garden comes into its own
Home & GardenNovember 17

Go nuts, life’s a beech

Some years — such as this one — an exceptionally large production of beech tree nuts occurs and this is referred to as a mast year. This year is a mast year.
Go nuts, life’s a beech
Go nuts, life’s a beech
Home & GardenNovember 10

Two Ghent survivors thriving

Tucked into borders on opposite sides of the azalea garden at Dunedin Botanic Garden are two azaleas with flowers quite different from those plants around them.
Two Ghent survivors thriving
Two Ghent survivors thriving
Home & GardenNovember 3

Maples also bring colour to spring

The great thing about many maples is they also have brilliant spring colours, enough to compete with the glorious spring flowers.
Maples also bring colour to spring
Maples also bring colour to spring
Home & GardenOctober 27

Forest plant with pure white blooms starring

If I was the marrying type, I would time my wedding to coincide with one of my favourite spring flowers: Clematis paniculata, or puawhananga (flower of the skies).
Forest plant with pure white blooms starring
Forest plant with pure white blooms starring
Home & GardenOctober 20

Aloe grows in wide variety

Aloe is a diverse genus of succulent plants mainly from southern Africa and Madagascar. 
Aloe grows in wide variety
Aloe grows in wide variety
Home & GardenOctober 13

Stellar ground cover easy to care for

Each spring, star-shaped flowers appear on a fresh new carpet of green, fern-like leaves.
Stellar ground cover easy to care for
Stellar ground cover easy to care for
Home & GardenOctober 6

Yellow hoop petticoat daffodils delight

A favourite since my childhood is the bright yellow hoop petticoat daffodil, Narcissus bulbocodium.
Yellow hoop petticoat daffodils delight
Yellow hoop petticoat daffodils delight
NewsSeptember 22

Information part of garden role

Unlike home gardens, one of the significant roles of a botanic garden is education. This ranges from plant studies by scientists, through to telling visitors plant stories using signs.
Information part of garden role
Information part of garden role
Home & GardenSeptember 15

Enjoy the fragrant smell of spring

Who doesn’t love sweet peas? 
Enjoy the fragrant smell of spring
Enjoy the fragrant smell of spring
Home & GardenSeptember 1

Garden’s snowdrops flowering

The generic name Galanthus was aptly based on the Greek words for milk flower by the Swedish botanist Linnaeus in 1753.
Garden’s snowdrops flowering
Garden’s snowdrops flowering
Home & GardenAugust 18

Shrimp plant delights

When you look at the flower structure, little explanation is required as to how Justicia brandegeeana gets its common name, the shrimp plant.
Shrimp plant delights
Shrimp plant delights
Home & GardenJuly 28

Fun growing exotics

As gardeners, many of us are not satisfied with what traditionally grows in our climate, and often want to push the boundaries and grow something a little more exotic.
Home & GardenJuly 22

See NZ in one day

The native plant collection at Dunedin Botanic Garden is like a three-dimensional plant identification book.
See NZ in one day
See NZ in one day