Dry Tolerant Trees
- A distinctly upright pyramidal tree, with evenly spaced weeping branches in layers. Slender needle like leaves are blue grey. An excellent specimen tree.
- Commercial oil Olive. Smaller leaves with dense habit. Small fruit produced in abundance with high oil content. Fruits from an early age. Will tolerate warmer climates. Being from the Mediterranean olive trees require full sun and will tolerate wind coastal and can also survive extended dry periods once established.
- Laurus nobilis – Bay Laurel is a compact evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region. Its dark green, leathery leaves are highly aromatic and widely valued for culinary use. In spring, small yellow flowers appear, followed by clusters of dark berries that add seasonal interest. Bay Laurel can be easily trimmed to shape, making it ideal as a screen or hedge. Moreover, it performs beautifully as a standard or ornamental tree, offering versatility in both formal and informal garden designs. This tree prefers moist, well-drained soil, yet it will tolerate drier conditions once established. In addition, it withstands coastal and windy aspects, making it a resilient choice for challenging sites. Mature specimens typically reach around 5 metres high and 3 metres wide. Interestingly, the name nobilis reflects its impressive quality and noble reputation.
- Pittosporum crassifolium - Karo is a compact, evergreen tree native to New Zealand. Its bushy form and leathery dark green leaves, felted underneath, give it a lush appearance. In spring, it produces sweetly scented purple flowers, especially fragrant during calm mornings or evenings. After flowering, it forms seed capsules that attract and feed native and other small birds. Karo is easily trimmed into a tidy hedge or left to grow as a hardy screen, either trimmed or natural. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, it tolerates dry conditions, coastal exposure, and strong winds—making it ideal for challenging sites. This very hardy tree typically grows to around 6 metres tall and 4 metres wide, making it ideal for gardens needing structure and resilience.
- Corokia virgata ‘Geenty’s Green’ is a compact, bushy shrub native to New Zealand, celebrated for its vibrant green foliage and star-shaped yellow flowers that bloom in early summer. These are followed by small dark red berries that attract native birds, adding seasonal interest and biodiversity to your garden. Ideal for hedging, this versatile plant trims neatly into a tidy shape, ideal for low hedges or borders in larger or smaller gardens. It can be left to grow naturally into a larger screen as well. Once established, it thrives in exposed coastal, windy or dry conditions, making it a resilient choice for challenging sites. Mature plants reach approximately 2 metres high by 1.2 metres wide. Named in honour of New Zealand plantsman and Corokia enthusiast Mike Geenty, this cultivar has the Latin virgata, meaning “twiggy”—a reference to its fine branching structure.
- Corynocarpus laevigatus – Karaka is a dense, evergreen tree native to New Zealand. Its lush, glossy green foliage creates a bold, tropical impression—perfect for adding instant visual appeal to gardens and landscapes. Flowering in late winter to spring, it produces delicate green-cream clusters. By summer, vibrant orange berry-like fruits emerge, attracting native kererū, who help disperse the seeds. Exceptionally hardy, Karaka withstands strong winds, coastal exposure, and drought. However, it dislikes waterlogged soils. Ideal as a privacy screen or shade canopy, this tree grows to approximately 15–20 metres tall and 8 metres wide.
- Fraxinus griffithii, commonly known as Evergreen Ash, is a fast-growing tree with a rounded form. Its dark green pinnate leaflets create lush foliage, while masses of small white fragrant flowers appear in large, loose panicles during spring, almost covering the entire tree. This hardy tree performs best in well-drained soil and becomes drought tolerant once established. However, avoid waterlogged areas to prevent root rot. Although evergreen, Evergreen Ash can become semi-deciduous in colder climates. It grows to around 6 x 4 metres, forming a beautiful shade tree for gardens and landscapes. The tree is easily clipped to maintain shape and height, making it versatile for design. Very hardy, it also thrives in industrial sites, carparks, and coastal areas, offering resilience and reliability in challenging conditions.
- Kunzea ericoides, commonly known as Kanuka, is a tall, fast-growing New Zealand native tree with a broad, spreading crown. Because of its vigorous growth, it’s widely recognised and valued in native landscapes. Although its tiny needle-like leaves resemble Manuka, they feel noticeably softer to the touch. During summer, small white flowers blanket the tree, creating an almost snow-like effect that’s highly attractive to bees. Compared to Manuka, Kanuka grows larger and produces smaller seeds. Once established, it withstands windy coastal conditions and thrives in dry soils. Furthermore, it tolerates clay, though overly wet areas should be avoided. Extremely hardy, Kanuka reaches approximately 6 x 4 metres. As a result, it’s used extensively as a cover tree to protect newly planted native revegetation, offering both shelter and ecological support.
- Leptospermum nitidum ‘Coppersheen’ is a popular, fast-growing evergreen native to Tasmania. It is admired for its striking bronze-red foliage, red stems, and masses of white flowers that bloom profusely in summer, adding vibrant contrast to the garden. Easily trimmed, Coppersheen makes an excellent hedge or larger screen. When left to grow naturally, it reaches approximately 6 x 4 metres, forming a spreading tree with strong visual appeal. This hardy plant tolerates drought and coastal conditions. It grows best in full sun with moist, well-drained soil, making it a versatile choice for many landscapes.
- Leptospermum scoparium – Manuka or Tea Tree is a compact, native New Zealand tree known for its resilience and beauty. It’s ideal for gardens seeking year-round interest and biodiversity. Dark green foliage is narrow, lance-shaped and sharply pointed. From late autumn to early spring, the tree bursts into single or double flowers, offering a vibrant display and nectar for bees. These are followed by its berries, which resemble tiny hot cross buns. Manuka is also prized for its high-quality honey, making it a valuable addition to any landscape. Hardy and adaptable, Manuka tolerates clay soils and thrives in windy coastal areas or dry conditions once established. Avoid overly wet soils for best results. It typically grows to around 5 meters tall and 3 meters wide.
- Olea europaea ‘El Greco’ – Greek Olive is a compact evergreen olive known for its small green leaves and dense, tidy habit. Often used as a hedging olive, it may produce some fruit if left untrimmed, although this is not typical. This variety prefers moist, well‑drained soil but tolerates dry periods once established. Since it originates from the Mediterranean, it thrives in full sun and copes well with wind and coastal conditions. Because of its naturally dense, bushy form, ‘El Greco’ easily trims into neat low or tall hedges, making it ideal for smaller gardens. It grows to approximately 3 × 2 metres.
- Podocarpus totara 'Black Bridge', also known as Upright Totara, is a bushier and more upright form of the native NZ Totara. Unlike the standard Totara, it skips the thin juvenile stage and instead develops a dense, strong structure from an early age. As a result, it offers a robust and tidy appearance right from the start. With a moderate growth rate, this versatile tree is ideal as a stand-alone specimen in areas where space is limited. Alternatively, it can be easily trimmed into a compact hedge or allowed to grow on and shaped into a screen or shelter belt. Furthermore, once established, it tolerates drier conditions well—although it still prefers moist, well-drained soil for optimal health. Thanks to its hardiness and adaptability, 'Totora Black Bridge' is an excellent choice for a wide range of garden styles. Ultimately, it reaches approximately 8 x 5 meters, making it a striking yet manageable feature in any landscape.
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- Pseudopanax ferox – Savage Lancewood (Horoeka) is an unusual New Zealand native, closely resembling Pseudopanax crassifolium. In its juvenile stage, it grows with a single thin stem and long, slender pale grey-brown leaves. These leaves feature distinctive saw-like teeth along the edges, giving the plant a striking appearance. After 10–15 years, the tree reaches maturity. At this stage, the leaves become shorter, wider, and dark green. Its form changes into a more typical tree shape, with spreading branches that build a rounded crown. In ideal conditions, Savage Lancewood can reach around 6 metres in height with a trunk up to 25 cm in diameter. The mature trunk develops distinctive vertical grooves, sometimes twisting slightly, adding further character. This species prefers well-drained soil and tolerates drier conditions once established. It grows best in full sun, slowly reaching approximately 6 x 1 metres over many years. Perfect as a statement specimen, it adds drama and uniqueness to any garden.
- Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' is an elegant, evergreen conifer with a compact, conical shape. Its slow-growing nature means it maintains form without the need for trimming, making it ideal for low-maintenance gardens. Bright green, glossy foliage grows densely along upright branches, creating a refined vertical accent. Moreover, it tolerates humid conditions better than many other upright conifers. This versatile plant thrives in full sun or part shade and prefers well-drained soil. Because of its tidy shape, it suits containers, small gardens, or as striking statement pillars. Typically growing to around 4.0 x 1.5 metres, it fits beautifully into formal or modern landscapes. Interestingly, the name “Smaragd” comes from Ancient Greek and translates to “green stone,” reflecting its vibrant colour
- Callistemon ‘Kings Park Special’ is a vigorous, evergreen small tree native to Australia. Its long, narrow green leaves decorate slightly pendulous branches, creating a graceful form in the garden. Furthermore, masses of red, fluffy, bottlebrush flowers with golden anthers bloom in spring and autumn. These vibrant flowers provide abundant nectar, attracting bees and birds while adding seasonal colour. In addition, this hardy tree tolerates poor dry soils once established, as well as clay, coastal, and windy conditions. However, avoid wet or poorly drained sites. Best grown in full sun, it reaches approximately 3m high and 2m wide if left untrimmed but trimmed also makes an excellent screen or hedge.
- Dodonaea viscosa ‘Purpurea’ – Purple Akeake is a tough, upright native New Zealand tree with bold, glossy purple-red foliage that deepens in colour during the cooler months. In summer, it puts on a show with unusual light red to purple papery flower clusters that add a rugged splash of contrast. Over time, Purple Akeake spreads out, making it a good choice for privacy screening or adding colour into compact garden spaces. It handles a wide range of soil types, salt spray, wind, and drought once established—but thrives best in moist, well-drained soil. Trim regularly to maintain a dense, bushy form. The name viscosa refers to the sticky texture of its seeds. Grows to approximately 3.5m high x 2.0m wide.
- Olea europaea ‘Verdale’ – Olive is an evergreen tree with a spreading, weeping form. Its long leaves show distinct green‑silver or grey‑green tones on top, while the undersides appear silvery grey. This gives the tree one of the most strikingly silvery canopies among olive varieties.Verdale originates from southern France. It is a traditional French cultivar valued for its large green olives, which are ideal for pickling. In addition, it produces a mild, fruity oil and is known for cropping reliably each season. This olive thrives in full sun and prefers moist, well‑drained soil. It also tolerates wind and coastal conditions. Once established, it can withstand extended dry periods, making it a hardy and versatile choice for many landscapes. Reaching around 5 metres, Verdale is used in commercial orchards. In residential gardens, it works beautifully as a shade tree that offers a dappled light.
- Acer freemanii ‘Jeffers Red’ – Freeman Maple is a fast-growing, upright, deciduous tree featuring strong ascending branches and a dense, broad-oval crown. Its rich green summer foliage transforms into brilliant red in autumn, creating a stunning seasonal display. It thrives in moist, well-drained soil but adapts to clay, poor, wet, or dry conditions. More wind-tolerant than other maples. Ideal as a specimen or avenue tree, it reaches approximately 10m tall by 5m wide.
- Jacaranda mimosafolia - Jacaranda is a bold, fast-growing tree with a rugged, irregular crown and dynamic branches reaching outward, the Jacaranda instantly commands attention in any landscape. Although it is deciduous in all but the warmest climates, it still offers year-round visual interest thanks to its fine, feathery green foliage. As early summer arrives, its canopy transforms into a striking display, when soft purple blooms blanket the tree in breath taking colour. Not only does it provide beauty, but it also makes an excellent dappled shade tree. Native to south-central South America, this sub-tropical species thrives in sunny locations with moist, well-drained soil but will tolerate dryer once established. Typically, it grows to around 7 meters tall and 5 meters wide, making it a standout feature in gardens or larger landscapes.
- Quercus robur – English Oak is one of the worlds most recognised trees. It is a deciduous, long‑lived tree native to Europe. It grows into a very large specimen with a broad crown of rugged, open branches. Its dark green leaves turn a clear yellow in autumn, while acorns ripen and fall throughout the season. As it matures, the tree develops short, attractive fissured bark that adds strong visual character. Although it tolerates clay soils, it is best to avoid sites that remain consistently wet. In the Landscape its expansive canopy, it makes an excellent shade tree for parks, reserves, farms, and larger open spaces. The English Oak is also valued for its durable timber. Its heartwood is highly sought after for interior use and quality furniture work. This impressive tree typically reaches around 10 × 6 m in ten years and can surpass 30 m at full maturity. The Latin word robur refers to hardwood, especially oak, and conveys strength, firmness, power, and resilience.
