9. Gazania A group of perennial and annual ground cover plants, Gazania are often seen in seaside gardens. They revel in windy locations as long as they have plenty of sun and free-draining soil. From summer to autumn they produce masses of flowers in colours that range from cream and white through to yellows, oranges and reds. Gazania need very little maintenance and will sprawl happily over banks and rockeries in windy, hot areas.
8. Olive Think of the olive groves in the Greek Islands and you’ll get an understanding of how well these ancient trees thrive in windy, coastal situations. Olives (Olea) are grown in residential gardens more for their ornamental value than fruit these days. They make lovely fast-growing screens that won’t block the light like a lot of other evergreen screen trees do. Perfect drainage is a must. GARDENER’S TIP: Olives can be pruned back hard if they become overgrown.
7. Bottlebrush Another tough Australian native, bottlebrush (Callistemon) will tolerate strong winds as long as they’re not too salt-laden. Soil should be well-drained and it needs plenty of sun to flower well. Birds love the nectar of bottlebrush flowers, which can be white, red, pink or purple depending on the species. Trees range in size from dwarf types to those over 5 metres. GARDENER’S TIP: Prune off seed capsules when flowering finishes to keep plants bushy and encourage more flowers.
6. Carex This enormous group of over 2000 species of grasses (technically known as sedges) includes many that are native to New Zealand. Carex can grow in many different places, from swamps to Arctic tundra, so it’s important to chose those that will grow in the conditions of your garden. Too often we see carex languishing in places where they should not be grown, but another species in the genus might have been ideal. GARDENER’S TIP: For windy gardens with well-drained soil try Carex comans, C. flagellifera or C. testacea (see above), while C. trifida will tolerate wind and moist soil.
5. Leucospermum Leucospermum, sometimes known as pincushion plant, is a group of South African shrubs that thrives in windy, coastal gardens. It’s a member of the South African Proteaceae family that also includes Protea, Grevillea, Leucadendron and Banksia. All produce stunning flowers which last for long periods, such as those of the Leucospermum hybrid ‘Scarlet Ribbons’ pictured to the right in the image above. This plant is tolerant of long periods of drought, but they do need good drainage and soil that is not too rich in nitrates and phosphates. GARDENER’S TIP: Prune after flowering for shape and avoid feeding.
3. Lomandra This group of Australian grasses have won over gardeners and landscape designers on both sides of the Tasman with their graceful foliage, and their incredibly good performance in wind, sun, drought, part shade and even cold conditions. Unlike some New Zealand grasses, which can struggle in humid conditions, Lomandra thrive in both warm and cool areas with plants retaining their bright colour throughout the year. One of the most commonly grown is Lomandra ‘Tanika’, which has lush green foliage and reaches about 90 centimetres in height with a one-metre spread. However, there are many other cultivars large and small, some with green-blue or bright lime foliage. GARDENER’S TIP: Lomandra rarely look scruffy but if they do, cutting them back to about 15 centimetres (although not in mid-summer) will stimulate new growth.
2. Rockrose Rockrose (Cistus) hails from southern Europe and north Africa, which gives you a clue as to its toughness. This plant is great for dry banks, rockeries and coastal gardens. It takes salt-laden coastal winds and hot, desert conditions in its stride, rewarding you with masses of delightful flowers throughout spring and summer. Soil should not be overly fertile (don’t overfeed) and fairly dry for rockrose to flourish. GARDENER’S TIP: Rockrose will flower better if kept bushy and compact by pinching out young leaves as plants develop.
1. California lilac California lilac (Ceanothus) thrives in exposed, sunny, dry, free-draining conditions, just what you’d expect from a plant that grows naturally in the mountains of California. There are many cultivars and species in the Ceanothus genus, all of them tough evergreen shrubs. They’re also tolerant of frost, but give young plants protection from cold and wind while they establish. In spring, California lilac is covered in dense clusters of blue flowers. Shrubs range in size from low ground covers to small trees. Stake taller growing species in exposed situations, as too much movement can damage roots.
Also known as tea tree, manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is one of the most common native plants in New Zealand and is very adaptable, capable of growing in windy, wet, cold and dry places as well as in clay soils. Fast-growing manuka does best in full sun, its flowers attracting bees, butterflies and birds. There are many wonderful manuka cultivars now available, from prostrate ground covers to small trees that produce red, pink or white flowers. GARDENER’S TIP: Don’t prune back too hard as manuka generally only flowers from new wood.
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