Mature trees grace garden
At times it can be easy to miss the trees and see only the flowers. But look up. The 155-year-old Dunedin Botanic Garden has a large collection of trees, many well over 100!
Garden Life
Majestic conifers not for the faint of heart
Majestic conifers not for the faint of heart
Sequoia sempervirens, which is more commonly known as California redwood, is not a tree for the faint of heart.
To let seed or not to seed?
To let seed or not to seed?
To seed, or not to seed: that is the question.
Apricot and orange beauties catch the eye
Apricot and orange beauties catch the eye
A favourite rose can be hard to choose as there are so many beauties.
Glasshouse ready
Glasshouse ready
If you have visited the botanic garden in the past few months, you may have noticed the winter garden glasshouse getting a major makeover.
Growing a woodland garden in your suburban plot
Growing a woodland garden in your suburban plot
Woodland gardens aren't only for large uncultivated areas, but can be created in your own backyard.
Plenty to enjoy in the upper garden
Plenty to enjoy in the upper garden
Dunedin's flat lower botanic garden is a much-loved destination. The duck pond has provided hours of fun for generations and the winter garden glasshouse has been a hit for more than 100 years. But...
Understated flowers great in any garden
Understated flowers great in any garden
The name alone - Sicilian honey garlic or Nectaroscordum siculum - attracts me to this plant, but the understated flowers make it a great choice for any garden.
Carrot family well represented in NZ
Carrot family well represented in NZ
What do coriander, parsnip, celery and hemlock have in common?
Fiery South African bloom
Fiery South African bloom
The Natal bottlebrush's long protruding stamens, like the fiery breath of dragons, supply a rich source of nectar enjoyed by tuis and waxeyes.
Hardy rock rose blooms for months on end
Hardy rock rose blooms for months on end
Is it the blooming profusion of flowers that makes rock roses so attractive? These little tenacious beauties have so much more going for them than just flowers.
‘Nepeta’ brings garden scent and colour
‘Nepeta’ brings garden scent and colour
If you’re looking for a versatile and low-maintenance perennial you can’t go past the Nepeta genus. Brightening the summer garden, they’re suitable for a wide range of growing conditions.
As fleeting as a flare
As fleeting as a flare
This beautiful echium begins life as a silvery rosette reminiscent of our native Celmisia. It takes one or two years to flower; if it lives for that long. It can be fickle here in Dunedin and die...
Polarising plant makes bold statement
Polarising plant makes bold statement
Some plants people either love or hate; Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' is one of those plants. Some people think it looks ghastly, while others go dotty over it.
Flamboyant peony needs a cold start
Flamboyant peony needs a cold start
Nearly everybody loves peonies, but not everyone in New Zealand can grow them. One of the many benefits of living in a cooler climate is the ability to grow plants that need lower temperatures.
Squawking chicks only rarely need our help
Squawking chicks only rarely need our help
In spring, the cycle of life starts anew and birds are busy breeding. At Dunedin Botanic Garden aviary some mothers are on nests, and there are signs others will start laying eggs soon.
Rhododendrons radiant but others have own charm
Rhododendrons radiant but others have own charm
The Rhododendron Dell at the Dunedin Botanic Garden is bursting with spring colour as the rhododendron season gets into full stride and spring bulbs continue to delight. However, it's also worth...
Tough Australian nut smooth on the inside
Tough Australian nut smooth on the inside
Did you know that our Australian neighbours have one of the most prized nut producers as a native tree? Macadamia is a genus of four species, of which three are edible. The fourth is poisonous.
Helping a beloved garden inhabitant
Helping a beloved garden inhabitant
A backyard visit from a kereru is always a delight. It is remarkable that these placid vegetarians, with their ungainly ways and appetising appearance, remain a common sight in urban gardens.
Humble cowslip a winner
Humble cowslip a winner
After a decline in its natural habitat over the past few decades, the cowslip, Primula veris, is once again becoming a common sight in early spring.