Plants in New Zealand’s South Island

New Zealand is a young country and has many native plants unique to it.

Plants notable to the South Island of New Zealand are hebes, tussock grasses, spear grass (aciphylla) native clematis, pittosporum, flax (phormium) beech, cabbage trees (cordyline), ranunculus, scenecio, olearia and celmisia, to name a few.

With the settlement of Europeans around 1840, New Zealand now showcases a wide range of exotic plants from around the world.

The gardens of the Queenstown area in the southern South Island, are regarded as cool climate gardens with cold winters and hot dry summers.

Queenstown experiences four distinct seasons. Dormancy caused by the cold winters allows species native to Northern USA, Europe, Central Asia, China and Japan to thrive in this area creating beautiful gardens combined with our native vegetation. For example a few species here to see are a wonderful selection of peonies, roses, deciduous trees, deciduous azaleas, rhododendrons, bulbs, perennials and conifers.

During the warm months from October through to March, these plants are showcased to perfection, giving vibrant colours, wonderful fragrance and strong lush foliage.

To visit these gardens on a tour please contact us.