Trees & Grasses

Special Flaxes Types

Flax Tupurupuru: Known as Tarariki in Taranaki. Used for kete and whariki. (Sourced from Gisborne)

Flax Paoa: Good kete flax and sought after for its decorative values as it dries to a distinct yellow. (Sourced from Gisborne and Muriwai)

Flax Turingawari: Good for kete and easy to work with. (Sourced from Tauwhareparae – Ngati porou) 

Flax Wharanui: Soft and easy to use for weaving and is great for learners. (Sourced from Urewera)

Flax Ruawai: Good general weaving variety with good muka. (Sourced from Mt Hikurangi)

Flax Taeore, Taiore: Good for weaving kete, cloaks and whariki with strong hard muka. (Sourced from Opunake and Maniapoto)

Flax Kohunga: Good weaving flax. (Sourced from Maniapoto)

Flax Tutaewheke: Good for weaving but not good for muka. (Sourced from Taranaki via Wellington Botanic Gardens)

Flax Huhiroa: Long, good quality fibre, good for mats, garments, fishing lines and ropes. (Sourced from Taranaki via Wellington Botanic Gardens)

Flax Atewhiki: Good for whariki and kete but not good muka flax. (Sourced from Taranaki via Wellington Botanic gardens)

Flax Ngaro: Strong hard fibre (used for milling in the last century), good for kete and piupiu. (Sourced from Foxton)

Flax Raumoa: Good for kete and mats. (Sourced from Taranaki via Wellington Botanic Gardens and Te Kuiti)

Muka = Fibre                    Whariki = Floor mats

Kete = Baskets and bags    Piupiu = Skirts of flax fibre

Special Plant Types

Supplied by Bill Clarkson - Motoroa School 

Koromiko:  (Hebe elliptica) – Needs open sunny spot with good airflow and drainage. 50cm high

Paritutu Korokio: (Corokia cotoneaster) – Needs good drainage, sunny location with good airflow, 80cm x 80cm

Kohiki: (Tetragonia tetragonioides) – Needs open sunny spot forms a mat 1m x1m

Koheriki:  (Scandia rosifolia) – Needs good drainage, semi shade and space to grow outwards, 70cm x 70cm

Pinatoro: (Pimelea urvilleana) - Needs sunny, well drained. - Forms extensive mats space 60cm apart

Tataraheke: (Coprosma acerosa) – Needs sunny, good drainage. - Forms low growing mat, space 50cm apart

Coastal Succulent: (Peperomia urvilleana) - Now very rare in Taranaki. Needs semi-shade, sloping well drained bank or in purpose built raised garden using ponga edge and base with gritty mix.  

Mikoimikoi N.Z. Iris (Libertia grandiflora) Needs semi shade, plant in mass - 40cm high protect from snails.

Coastal Porcupine: (Melicytus crassifolius) - Divaricating coastal shrub from Cook Strait region, - 80cm x 80cm

Koromiko Surville Cliff’s: (Hebe brevifolia) - Needs sunny spot and good airflow. - Low growing with bright flower.

Koromiko Cultivated: (Hebe speciosa) - Needs sunny spot with good airflow. - 60cm high

Cabbage Tree: (Cordyline australis) Prefer wet, open areas like swamps – 20 m high

Red Lobster:  (Coprosma Acerosa)     Bushy natural undercover - 2 to 3m high – Seeds attract native birds

Red Rock:  (Coprosma Acerosa)Bushy natural undercover - 2 to 3m high – Seeds attract native birds

Kowhai: (Sophora Microphylla) Medium hight tree – Native médicine wounds, brusing and dermatalogical

Broadleaf: (Griselinia Littoralis) Hardy good for hedging 2 m high

Karo: (Pittospoum Crassofolium) Bushy – Seeds attract native birds

Sand Coprosma: (Coprosma acerosa) Bushy natural undercover - 2 to 3m high – Seeds attract native birds

Red Wonder: (Corokia) Hardy ground cover – ½ m high.

Totara:  (Podocarpus) Large tree suit dry conditions - Provides food for native birds

Koromiko: (Hebe Inspiration)  Fast growing shrub – Nurse crop vegetation for other native plants. 1m high

Kohuku: (Tenuifolium) Medium hight tree – Food for native birds.