Karin's Garden

Medium-sized tree growing up to 20M. Long-lasting clusters of vibrant purple-blue flowers in early summer.

This tree is said to not like salt winds. The city most famous for its Jacaranda’s is Pretoria, also known as Jacaranda City, which is some 400km from the sea. It is not a particularly common plant in Karin’s Garden, though it stops you in your tracks when you see it. In Motueka it does not seem to mind where it is planted, with a healthy specimen on the seaward side of Trewavas street. Maybe we just don’t get the salt-laden winds that some coasts do?

Click here to go to the Jacaranda mimisifolia page in Karin’s Garden.

This a small deciduous tree, usually growing to only 5-7M, with a noticeably broad crown. Profusion of bright pink flowers comprising many stamens that resemble silk filaments.

There are several of these around Motueka; in gardens, and municipal plantings as shown below. Many of these are too big to be the Rosea form, though they do look very similar otherwise. The spread means that this is just too big for normal section sizes in town, which is just fine in many ways, as we get to enjoy them anyway.

Click here to go to the Albizia julibrissin f. Rosea page in Karin’s Garden.

Can grow up to 25M tall, this is the iconic New Zealand Christmas Tree. Spectacular red flowers are made up of a mass of stamens.

Pohutukawa is [obviously] the highlight at this time of year. Though not native to the South Island they are to be found all through Karin’s Garden. New Zealand native plants do have a justified reputation for being a bit green and boring, from an ornamental garden perspective. This is a glorious exception, along with its close relative the Rata which are flowering in Abel Tasman at this time as well.

Click here to go to the Metrosideros excelsa page in Karin’s Garden.

Grevillea robusta – Silky Oak

This the largest of the Grevilleas, growing to 40M, usually with a single trunk giving it somewhat the appearance of a conifer. Profusion of bright orange flowers cover this tall tree in summer.

I was delighted to see this tree directly ahead of me on the road out of Riwaka towards Kaiteriteri, at the banked 90^o left hand bend. This is an unusual tree in New Zealand; there is a small stand at the Eastwood Hill national arboretum near Gisborne. So do make the most of this one!

Click here to go to the Grevillea robusta page in Karin’s Garden.

Lilium regale – Royal Lily

This is a tall lily, rising to as much as 2.0M, though more commonly about 1.25M. Majestic spikes of huge white trumpets with a yellow throat.

Widely regarded as having the best fragrance of all the Lilies, this plant deserves to be much more common in Tasman that it is. It is absolutely one of the top plants in Karin’s Garden.

Click here to go to the Lilium regale page in Karin’s Garden.

Aloe polyphylla – Spiral Aloe

This is a stemless succulent to 1.0m tall when in flower. Pannicles of bright orange flowers in early summer, over spiral leaf rosette.

The spiral leaf rosette is the main feature of this plant, which is a joy year round. They can be expensive, and a quick check on TradeMe found on being offered for $135!

Click here to go to the Aloe polyphylla page in Karin’s Garden.

Calistemon citrinus – Australian Bottlebrush

This is small tree, reaching 5M at maturity. Bright crimson  flower spikes cover the tree in late spring.

C. citrinus is a popular plant in Tasman gardens. Hardy, drought tolerant, and reliably free flowering. Last year we had a scarlet flowered variety as our highlight plant. So this year let’s have a look at a cerise variety, C. citrinus “Hot Pink”. There are several of these around Motueka and they are, if anything, even more floriferous than the scarlet flowered variety.

Click here to go to the Callistemon citrinus page in Karin’s Garden.

Kalmia Pink – Mountain Laurel
Clusters of pink buds like cake icing pipings, open to little lampshade-like bells.

This is a relatively unusual plant in Motueka, despite its beauty and suitability to the Tasman soil and climate. There are a few around Motueka, mostly “Pink Charm” pictured here, and also a darker pink and Minuet with a distinctive purple band around the inside of each bell..

Click here to go to the Kalmia latifolia page in Karin’s Garden.

Salvia Argentea – Silver Sage

This is a short lived perennial plant, often grown only for its dramatic woolly foliage, which flowers to about 80cm. Wonderful, large, woolly leaves in spring, followed by spires of purple-tipped white flowers.

This is an eye-catching plant in spring when the new leaves have an especially luxuriant, soft, silvery appearance. It is evergreen in Karin’s Garden and the leaves are effective at suppressing weeds.

Click here to go to the Salvia argentea page in Karin’s Garden.

Lampranthus aurantiacus Pink – Ice Plant

L. aurantiacus is a spreading shrub, never more than about 20cm tall, layering as it goes. A mat of long-lasting day-glow pink daisy-like flowers in late spring.

This is a dazzling plant that stops you in your tracks in late spring. Being highly drought tolerant it is particularly suited to coastal Tasman summers. The plant pictured below is towards the red end of the colour spectrum. A garden on the seaward side of Trewavas Street in Motueka has a pebble bank facing the footpath along the coast there; with the whole range of colours, from white through to red, including some semi-doubles.

Click here to go to the Lampranthus aurantiacus page in Karin’s Garden.