Wet Soil Tolerant Trees
- Cordyline australis, commonly known as the Cabbage Tree or Ti Kouka, is a striking native tree found throughout New Zealand. With its upright trunk and clusters of long, drooping leaves—often reaching up to 1 metre—it resembles a palm and adds architectural flair to any landscape. In late spring, this hardy tree bursts into large heads of creamy white, scented flowers. These blooms are rich in nectar, attracting bees and other pollinators. As summer progresses, the tree produces fruit that draws native birds from January to April, enhancing biodiversity in your garden or property. Cordyline australis thrives in a wide range of environments—from swampy wetlands to dry, windy hill slopes. It’s commonly seen across farmland, open spaces, and scrubland in both the North and South Islands. While it tolerates clay soils, it performs best in free-draining ground and is resistant to coastal winds and harsh conditions. The name “Cabbage Tree” arose from early European settlers who, like Maori, used the tender heart-shoots as a vegetable. Its Latin name, australis, fittingly means “southern” or “of the south,” reflecting its deep roots in New Zealand’s southern landscapes. This iconic tree typically grows to around 6 metres tall and 2 metres wide, making it a bold and resilient choice for coastal gardens, rural properties, and native restoration projects.
- 6 x 2m
- Medium 5-10m
- Slow - Moderate
- Palm
- Upright
- New Zealand/div>
- Nikau Palms
- Green
- White
- Fragrant
- Dry once established, Damp-Wet, Clay
- Coastal, Windy, Hardy
- Bird Feeding, Small Gardens
- Kahikatea, also known as White Pine, stands as New Zealand’s tallest native tree and commands attention with its strong, upright form. As a coniferous species, it grows relatively fast and develops a bold presence in wetland and lowland environments. In its juvenile stage, Kahikatea features drooping, needle-like foliage with a distinctive brown-bronze hue. Over time, this matures into a mid-green canopy as the tree gains height and structure. For many years, it maintains a columnar to oval shape before eventually opening into a broad, stately crown. Typically found growing in groups across swampy areas throughout New Zealand, Kahikatea thrives in damp soils and performs well in restoration projects and native plantings. Within 10 years, it can reach approximately 10 metres in height and 5 metres in width. Given time, it matures into a towering specimen—often exceeding 40 metres. This iconic tree is not only a symbol of strength and endurance but also plays a vital role in New Zealand’s ecological heritage.
- 10 x 5 in 10 Years, 40+ at maturity
- Tall 10+m
- Fast
- Tree
- Columnar-Oval
- Deciduous
- New Zealand/div>
- Dacrydium Cupressinum, Liriodendron tulipifera fastigiata, Olea El Greco, Knightia Excelsa, Acer Bowall, Poplar crow’s nest, Quercus robur fastigiata, Carpinus Betulus fastigiata
- Green
- Damp-Wet Tolerant
- Inhabits mostly lowland forests between 0–600 m in North and South Islands
- Statement tree, Bird feeding
- Laurelia novae‑zealandiae – Pukatea is an evergreen native tree of New Zealand. It grows quickly, producing fresh green, oval, serrated foliage along shiny black branches. For many years, it maintains a columnar form before eventually developing into a large, round-headed specimen tree. Pukatea thrives in moist to wet, fertile soils. In fact, it excels in temperate to warm subtropical climates with high humidity and consistent rainfall. Its unique strength lies in its ability to grow in poorly drained, swampy areas where other trees often fail. Perfect for wetland areas. This tree is the perfect choice for challenging sites where others would not cope. In natural forest conditions, it can reach heights of up to 35 metres. However, in urban settings with compacted soils, it more commonly grows between 6 and 10 metres, making it suitable for gardens and 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.
- Nyssa sylvatica – Black Tupelo is a medium-sized, deciduous tree with a graceful pyramidal shape. Native to North America, it brings seasonal interest and structure to gardens and landscapes. During summer, its dark green, glossy leaves—oval and pointed—reach up to 15 cm long. As autumn arrives, they transform into a stunning display of reds, oranges, and yellows, making it a true standout. This tree thrives near ponds or in damp, moist areas and tolerates clay soils well. Tiny flowers bloom discreetly, followed by small blue berries that attract birds and enhance biodiversity. Typically growing to around 7 meters tall and 4 meters wide, Black Tupelo is ideal for woodland-style plantings. The name sylvatica reflects its natural habitat—thriving in forested environments..
- 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.
- Quercus palustris – Pin Oak (Swamp Oak) is a deciduous tree native to North America, known for its pyramidal growth habit and distinctive brownish-grey bark. Its deeply cut, glossy green leaves provide lush summer foliage, which eventually transforms into a brilliant scarlet red display in autumn. Notably, the lower branches tend to droop toward the ground, adding architectural interest to its form. The Latin name palustris translates to “of marshland” or “of swamps,” reflecting its natural preference for moist to wet, acidic soil conditions. Pin Oaks tolerate damp to wet environments and thrives best in full sun. In ideal conditions, it can reach approximately 8 x 6 metres within 10 years and may grow to over 20 metres at full maturity—making it an excellent choice for large landscapes or as a commanding shade tree. Whether you're planting in parklands, spacious gardens, or wetland edges, Quercus palustris offers seasonal beauty and structural elegance.
- Taxodium distichum – Swamp Cypress, is a vigorous, deciduous conifer known for its striking pyramidal shape with origins in the United States. This bold tree adds structure to any larger landscape. In spring and summer, its soft, green needle-like foliage creates a lush canopy. As autumn arrives, the leaves shift to brilliant shades of golden yellow, warm orange, and rich brown—an eye-catching seasonal transformation. Remarkably tolerant of wet soils, Swamp Cypress thrives near ponds, streams, and other damp areas. Its adaptability makes it an ideal choice for wetland gardens or low-lying spaces. Typically, it reaches around 9 x 4 metres within ten years. At full maturity, it can grow to an impressive 25+ x 10 metres, offering long-term impact and shade. Interestingly, the species name distichum means “two-ranked,” referring to the elegant, two-rowed arrangement of its leaves along the branches.
- Metrosideros excelsa 'Maori Princess' is a refined cultivar of the iconic Pohutukawa, selected for its upright, pyramidal growth habit. Its foliage is a distinctive deep green, offering a lush contrast to its vivid red flowers. Because of its compact form and neat structure, this tree is ideal for smaller gardens or urban landscapes. In addition, its tidy shape makes it easy to maintain and visually appealing year-round. In late spring, 'Maori Princess' produces brilliant red flowers that cover the tree in a spectacular display. These blooms are not only eye-catching but also serve as a valuable food source for native birds. Consequently, this tree adds both beauty and biodiversity to your garden. Growing to around 7 x 5 metres, it can be clipped to shape, making it suitable as a screen, hedge, or standout specimen. Metrosideros varieties, including 'Maori Princess', thrive in coastal environments and are impressively resilient. They tolerate poor soil, excess moisture, and even drought. Moreover, they withstand salt-laden winds and arid conditions, making them perfect for exposed sites. While they can grow in clay and wet soils, they perform best in moist, well-drained earth. Therefore, this cultivar is not only tough but also an excellent shade tree for compact outdoor spaces.
- Metrosideros excelsa, commonly known as Pohutukawa, is one of New Zealand’s most iconic native trees. Excelsa stands out as the giant of the species, with a wide-spreading canopy and olive-green foliage. From December, it bursts into bright crimson, fluffy flowers. For this reason it’s often called the New Zealand Christmas tree. Flowers also attract bees, birds, and beneficial insects. Thriving in coastal environments, Pohutukawa trees are incredibly resilient. They endure poor soil, excess moisture, and even drought. Moreover, they withstand salt-laden winds and dry, exposed landscapes. Their thick roots often anchor into cliff faces, showcasing their strength and adaptability. Pohutukawa prefers moist, well-drained earth, but will grow in a wide range of soils. With proper space, this majestic tree can grow up to 15 metres tall and 10 metres wide, making it a stunning feature in larger gardens or coastal settings.
- Metrosideros excelsa x robusta 'Mistral', commonly known as Pohutukawa, is a stunning native tree discovered on the Coromandel Peninsula, located on the north-western coast of New Zealand’s North Island. As a natural hybrid of Metrosideros excelsa and robusta, Mistral offers a more compact and upright form. Its fresh green foliage matures into a darker shade, creating year-round interest. Moreover, its tidy growth habit makes it ideal for smaller spaces. In late spring, Mistral bursts into deep scarlet red flowers that blanket the entire tree, creating a breathtaking display. Not only are these blooms visually striking, but they also attract native birds, adding ecological value to your garden. Growing to approximately 5 x 3 metres, this tree is easily clipped into shape. Therefore, it works beautifully as a screen, hedge, or standout specimen in compact landscapes. Metrosideros varieties thrive in coastal environments and are impressively resilient. They tolerate poor soils, excess moisture, and even drought conditions. Furthermore, they withstand salt-laden winds and arid climates, making them perfect for exposed sites. While they can grow in clay and wet soils, they perform best in moist, well-drained earth. As a result, Mistral is not only hardy but also an excellent shade tree for smaller gardens.
- Salix caprea ‘Kilmarnock’ is a small, deciduous, umbrella shaped weeping tree. Its stiff yellow brown branches hang gracefully and hold small, green serrated leaves that shift to yellow green in autumn. In early spring, large silver grey catkins with bright yellow anthers appear before the foliage. This charming cultivar entered commercial production in 1853, introduced by Thomas Lang of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland. Since then, it has remained a popular choice for gardeners. Kilmarnock willow thrives in moist to wet, sunny locations. Because it is hardy and adaptable, it suits small gardens, containers, and areas with poor drainage. The final height depends entirely on the graft point, as all growth weeps downward from that position.
- Alnus jorullensis, commonly known as the Evergreen or Mexican Alder, is a vigorous, fast-growing tree and as the name suggests, native to Mexico and South America. This species thrives in warmer climates, where it often remains evergreen throughout the year. With pale, papery grey bark and green, birch-like serrated foliage, it offers a soft, elegant appearance. Its drooping branches add a graceful touch to any landscape. Moreover, this tree is highly adaptable—it can fix nitrogen and tolerates poor, clay, damp, or even wet soils, making it a resilient choice for challenging sites. Thanks to its rapid growth and tolerance for trimming, Alnus jorullensis is ideal for creating shelter belts or privacy screens. Alternatively, it can be planted as a striking standalone shade tree, especially in areas where quick canopy cover is desired. Growing to approximately 7 metres tall and 3 metres wide, this versatile tree brings both beauty and function to gardens, rural properties, coastal and urban landscapes alike.
- Acer rubrum ‘Bowhall’, commonly known as the Upright Red Maple, is a fast-growing, deciduous tree with a narrow, columnar form, ideal for tight spaces. Its strongly upright branches support glossy dark green leaves with silvery undersides, creating a striking contrast. In autumn, the foliage transforms into brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and reddish-orange, adding vibrant seasonal colour. This hardy tree adapts well to a wide range of soil conditions, from damp to dry, including clay and sandy soils. Native to North America, Bowhall is perfect for avenues, street plantings, or as a lawn specimen where space is limited. Mature height reaches approximately 12 metres with a spread of 3 metres.
- Liquidambar styraciflua – American Sweetgum is a striking deciduous tree known for its straight trunk and corky bark. It starts narrow and upright, gradually forming a broad, conical crown as it matures. Its green summer foliage transforms into vivid yellows, reds, purples, and oranges in autumn, creating an exceptional seasonal display. Native to North America, American Sweetgum thrives in moist areas and even tolerates poor drainage or clay soils. However, it performs best in moist, well‑drained soil with full sun. Reaching approximately 7 x 5 m, it makes an excellent avenue, specimen, or shade tree.
- Metrosideros excelsa 'Scarlet Pimpernel', commonly known as Pohutukawa, is a striking member of New Zealand’s iconic native tree family. This compact evergreen variety features a bushy growth habit and smaller leaves than traditional Pohutukawa, making it ideal for smaller gardens or urban landscapes. Also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree due to its prolific flowering in December when vibrant orange-red flowers bloom which attract bees, birds, and beneficial insects. Renowned for its resilience, 'Scarlet Pimpernel' thrives in coastal environments and tolerates poor soils, excess moisture, drought, and salt-laden winds. It also adapts well to clay and wet conditions, though it prefers moist, well-drained soil for optimal growth. Perfect as a shade tree or trimmed into a screen, this hardy native grows to approximately 4 metres tall and 2 metres wide. A beautiful, low-maintenance choice for coastal and urban planting.
- Populus ‘Crows Nest’, commonly known as the Upright Poplar, is a fast-growing, narrowly columnar deciduous tree that offers both practicality and visual appeal. With large green leaves that turn a brilliant yellow in autumn, it brings seasonal colour while maintaining a tidy vertical form. Thanks to its slim profile, ‘Crows Nest’ is widely used as a shelterbelt or screening tree, especially in areas where space is limited. Additionally, it can be topped to control height, making it a flexible choice for windbreaks or boundary planting. For effective shelter, trees should be planted 3–4 metres apart. Moreover, this poplar is reasonably drought tolerant, although it performs best in moist, well-drained conditions. It also boasts improved resistance to fungal rust, making it a resilient option for various landscapes. In ideal conditions, it can grow to approximately 10 metres in 10 years and may eventually reach heights of 25 metres or more. While the Populus genus is widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere—from Europe to China and North America, ‘Crows Nest’ is a unique New Zealand selection, well-suited to local climates and growing conditions. Whether used for erosion control, shelter, or as a structural element in larger plantings, Populus ‘Crows Nest’ delivers fast results with minimal fuss.
- Salix babylonica, commonly known as Weeping Willow, is a medium to large deciduous tree with a wide-spreading canopy. Its graceful, pendulous branches carry narrow, light green leaves that cascade to the ground. As autumn arrives, the foliage transforms into a soft yellow, adding seasonal charm. In spring, slender catkins emerge alongside fresh leaves, attracting bees and enhancing biodiversity. Because of its fast growth and tolerance for wet soil, this tree thrives near streams, ponds, or in damp areas. It also makes an excellent shade tree for large gardens or on farmland for livestock. Weeping Willow prefers full sun and typically grows to around 12 metres tall and 12 metres wide, offering both beauty and function
- Populus 'Tasman' - Tasman poplar, is a bold and fast-growing deciduous tree with a broadly columnar shape. During summer, its lush green foliage creates a vibrant canopy. Then, as autumn arrives, the leaves turn a brilliant golden yellow—often earlier than other poplar varieties. Not only visually striking, this tree is also highly functional. It performs exceptionally well in erosion control, large shelter belts, and timber production, thanks to its sturdy form and rapid growth. Moreover, Poplar 'Tasman' thrives in windy and wet conditions, making it ideal for exposed or challenging sites. Its resilience adds long-term value to both rural and urban landscapes. Reaching approximately 20 x 15 metres or more, it offers impressive height and presence. Whether for practical use or aesthetic impact, this tree delivers reliable performance and natural beauty.
- Metrosideros excelsa 'Moon Maiden' is a striking natural hybrid of the classic New Zealand Pohutukawa. Unlike its red-flowered relatives, it blooms with sulphur-yellow flowers in December, creating a luminous display. These dazzling blossoms also produce seeds that attract and nourish small native birds, adding life and movement to your garden. As an evergreen, 'Moon Maiden' forms a broad-headed canopy, offering excellent shade. Its thick green leaves feature silver-grey undersides, adding visual depth. Metrosideros thrive in coastal environments and are impressively resilient. They endure poor soil, excess moisture, and drought, making them ideal for exposed or challenging sites. In addition, they tolerate clay and wet soils—an advantage in areas with thin or heavy ground. However, they perform best in moist, well-drained earth. Growing to approximately 6 meters tall and 5 meters wide, 'Moon Maiden' makes a stunning specimen, avenue tree or shade tree
