Natives, featuring Jacks Point

Native Banner - June

We’ve been honoured to work on some wonderful projects over the years.  Some are more challenging than others because of their location.  Jacks Point is one of those places.  The landscape is undoubtedly beautiful but Mother Nature does like to exert a toll for that beauty.  The wind certainly blows, while winter can be cutting and severe. 

It’s worth it though.  We recently went back to check on some plantings from 2008.  The native trees have established well and winter, while cold, certainly shows off their beauty as only winter can. 

Natives - Jacks Point - June

Jacks Point – Native roadside plantings

PLAGIANTHUS regius - Native Ribbonwood

PLAGIANTHUS regius 35lt - February
PLAGIANTHUS regius 35lt - February

With small, lush green leaves that have a serrated edge, the Native Ribbonwood is one of the trees you just sense as being distinctly Kiwi. When young, the interwoven branches create an aesthetic that is as enticing as it is seemingly haphazard. Come summer, yellow green flowers have a soft and relaxed appearance. Ideal as a native street tree, it grows quickly in an upright columnar form. It’s a deciduous and hardy tree which eventually produces an open and rounded crown shaped head, as it reaches a size of 5 x 2m.

Natives - Jacks Point - June

NOTHOFAGUS solandri/cliffortioides - Native Mountain/black beech

NOTHOFAGUS solandri - April
NOTHOFAGUS solandri - April

Small dark green sprays of leaves are attached to short stems in a display of finery that belies the strength of the branching structure.  At the core is a dark brown to black trunk that can weather exposed landscapes.  This is a most useful and popular landscape tree that is hardy, evergreen, and can grow up to 8 x 4m.

Natives - Jacks Point - June

PITTOSPORUM tenuifolium - Native Pittosporum

PITTOSPORUM tenuifolium 25lt - March
PITTOSPORUM tenuifolium 25lt - March

The NZ Pittosporum (Kohuhu) has these wonderfully wrinkled medium sized leaves that can take on a purple tinge in winter. Regardless of the season, the green leaves are defined by their contrast to the purple/black stems. When used in hedging, this contrast adds depth, texture and character. It’s also a contrast that doesn’t fade, as this is a hardy evergreen that can tolerate most climates with ease.
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