The cultivation of New Zealand native plants, in the Northland and Auckland regions, by the home gardener: This thesis is presented in part fulfilment of the National Diploma in Horticulture of the Royal N.Z. Institute of Horticulture (Inc)

Abstract

As a home gardener and a worker in a local garden centre, I have come to realise some of the difficult growing conditions experienced in the Northland and Auckland regions. I have also come to appreciate what an asset many of our New Zealand small trees and shrubs are. I hope to dispel common misconceptions such as the drabness and slow growth of these plants and show that they can be used to help establish gardens under some harsh conditions while still being aesthetically pleasing. Despite their adaptability, good growing practices should not be overlooked and I hope to help the home gardener to overcome what I understand to be his most common pitfalls. In doing so I hope that it will help him to improve the general health of the plants in his garden and help to make his hobby more rewarding. It is also important that a plant is chosen to match its site, both in looks and in requirements, and I have endeavoured to give a list of plants which I have observed to be dependable in the north as well as having features which make them worthwhile inclusions in the garden. I hope also to draw attention to a number of excellent cultivars of native plants which offer foliage or flower that is frequently hard to surpass.