What trees to include in our Urban Landscape

World-wide and across our Aotearoa communities, we face a suite of urban challenges: exposure to airborne pollutants, Summer temperatures, drought and sudden inundation, all exacerbated by cramped planting footprints above- and below-ground. By choosing species that moderate thermal extremes, tolerate moisture swings and flourish in tight soil volumes. We are all able to convert Streetscapes into vibrant green corridors that support healthier, more liveable neighbourhoods.

Here are our top 10 trees that do well in our Urban Landscape:

NZ Native & Evergreen

  • Hoheria angustifolia – Houhere NZ Native Lacebark
  • Phyllocladus alpinus – Toatoa NZ Celery Pine
  • Podocarpus totara – NZ Native Totara
  • Pseudopanax ferox – Horoeka NZ Sabre-Toothed Lancewood
  • Sophora microphylla – NZ Native Kowhai

Deciduous

  • Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’ – Upright Hornbeam
  • Fraxinus excelsior ‘Green Glow’ – English Ash
  • Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’ – Sweet Gum
  • Prunus yedoensis – Yoshino Cherry
  • Zelkova serrata – Japanese Elm
Sophora - Highlands Motorsport Park - Feb 2021.jpg (1)
Sophora – Central Otago

Native & Evergreen

Hoheria angustifolia - Jacks Point April (1) 2019

HOHERIA angustifoliaHouhere NZ Native Lacebark

With its profusion of star-shaped white flowers each Summer, Lacebark becomes a magnet for Bellbirds, Tūī and bees, transforming streets and parks into vibrant wildlife corridors. The narrow, coarsely toothed leaves and gracefully weeping habit add year-round structure, while semi-deciduous resilience ensures reliable leaf cover through milder Winters. This low-maintenance native suits group plantings, screening or standalone specimens within a mature footprint.

PHYLLOCLADUS alpinusToatoa NZ Celery Pine

Sculptural clusters of fan-shaped foliage bring striking texture to Streetscapes, coastal reserves and park focal points. Originating from alpine regions, it’s exceptionally hardy against frost, wind and salt spray. Evergreen and multi-branched, offering a durable, low-care presence in public spaces.

Phyllocladus alpinus - Queenstown Streetscape - Jan 2025. (3)
Podocarpus totara - Rolleston Library - (1) Dec 2022

PODOCARPUS totaraNZ Native Totara

Totara’s dense, dark foliage creates an imposing screen or windbreak for coastal boulevards and open reserves. It responds beautifully to pruning, forming stock-resistant hedges and formal boundaries that thrive in poor soils and salt-laden air. Slow-growing and Evergreen, it demands minimal upkeep once established.

PSEUDOPANAX feroxHoroeka NZ Sabre-Toothed Lancewood

Dramatic, downward-curving, saw-toothed leaves evoke a bold architectural silhouette in any public planting. ‘Horoeka’ tolerates wind-swept sites and coastal exposure, delivering a compact yet unforgettable feature – perfect for small parks, plazas or street corners.

Pseudopanix ferox - Otago University Grounds - Oct 2023 (3)
Sophora - Dunedin Streetscapes (Jasmax & Nichols) - Dec 2023 (9)

SOPHORA microphyllaNZ Native Kowhai

Golden, bell-shaped blooms in late Spring herald the season and draw native birds and bees to urban greenways. Its fine, semi-weeping foliage softens hard edges along pathways and in pocket parks. Hardy and semi-deciduous, offering seasonal interest with minimal care.

Deciduous

CARPINUS betulus ‘Fastigiata’Upright Hornbeam

This tightly pyramidal tree brings formality and order to narrow streets and avenues with its neat columnar habit. Bright green, finely corrugated leaves catch light at every angle, creating subtle shimmer from Spring through Autumn. Deciduous and extremely hardy, with virtually no lateral spread – ideal for space-restricted corridors.

Carpinus betulus fastigiata - Queenstown Streetscape - Nov 2024 (4)
Fraxinus Greenglow - Ashburton Streetscape - (1a) April 2023

FRAXINUS excelsior‘Green Glow’English Ash

With vivid lime-green leaves and a neat columnar form is ideal for avenues and single‐row street plantings. It delivers summer shade without obstructing sidewalks or services and stands up to pollution, compacted soils, and drought. Minimal early pruning and steady growth keep maintenance and lifecycle costs low.

LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’Sweet Gum

One of the most sensational Autumn performers, this tree shifts from green to gold, then to vivid oranges, crimsons and purples, turning urban lanes into living galleries. Its upright pyramidal shape fits neatly into avenues and entranceways, while its deciduous cycle brings dynamic seasonal drama.

Liquidambar Worplesdon- Queenstown Streetscape (WPTA) - (2) May 2023
Prunus Yedoensis - Remarkables Park (1) Sept 2021

PRUNUS yedoensisYoshino Cherry

Renowned for its delicate, almond-scented white spring blossoms, Yoshino Cherry anchors festivals and community gatherings. Summer foliage warms to soft orange before deepening to romantic reds in autumn, all within a compact vase-to-spreading form. Proven hardy across Southland and Canterbury, it thrives in both dry and wet urban settings.

ZELKOVA serrataJapanese Elm

With a broad, elegant canopy and well-spaced lance-shaped leaves, Japanese Elm provides generous shade for courtyards, plazas and wide boulevards. In Autumn, foliage transforms from green to fiery reds, purples and oranges, crafting unforgettable public-space moments. Hardy against wind and pollution, anchoring any urban design with grace.

Zelkova - Dunedin Streetscapes (Jasmax & Nichols) - Dec 2023 (13)
Queens Park - May 2014
Our Beautiful Queenspark, Invercargill

Councils Cultivating Tomorrow’s Urban Green Spaces and Lasting Legacy

Adopting these choices in your Council’s planting programme will safeguard local ecosystems, reduce long-term upkeep costs and craft engaging public realms that stand up to the ever-changing pressures of urban growth and climate change. Be sure to check out our tree guides page for other tips, suggestions and helpful advice.

Harry Winter planting tips: One way to keep your hands warm in Winter is to keep them busy with some planting! It might sound like a strange time to do this but we’re operating on nature’s timeline here, and nature is making sure the soil is moist, while keeping bugs and plant diseases at bay. Your new plants will appreciate the time getting used to their new home before Spring kicks in.
Harry Winter Fruit Tree Pruning Tips: It's true alright. Some work now will reap a bountiful harvest next Summer, when you really do get to enjoy the fruits of your labour. The key is to stick to the 3 D's of pruning, getting rid of anything that's dead, diseased or damaged. Go about your work on a dry day and wear a few layers, so you can take them off as needed. Different fruit trees need to be pruned slightly differently but in general, just remember to not get too carried away. Trimming back by about 20% is a good rule of thumb.
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