Difficult but Rewarding.

Botanical Name

Description

Manuka (NZ Tea)

Leptospermum scoparium cultivars

Very attractive flowering shrub. No bud-back, hates root disturbance, needs close attention. Unforgiving.

Kanuka

Kunzea ericoides

As for Manuka

Kawaka Pahautea

Libocedrus plumosa L. bidwillii

NZ’s only cedars. Slow-growing. Hard to transplant.

Mingimingi

Leucopogon fasciculata

Shrub with small leaves and minute flowers. Sulks.

Rimu

Dacrycarpus cupressinum

Forest giant. Grows readily but pendulous branchlets make realism difficult.

Tree Ferns

Cyathea sp. and Dicksonia sp.

Grow easily but hard to keep to scale.

Most Popular

Botanical Name

Description

Kahikatea

Dacrycarpus dacrydioides

Forest canopy tree.Small brownish leaves of long-persisting juvenile form. Natural formal upright. Easily trained, profuse bud-back, slow-growing. Cuttings grown from an adult tree will retain the adult characteristics.

Totara

Podocarpus Totara

Forest canopy tree. Small leaves, attractive bark, easily trained, slow-growing and slow bud-back. There are several other species of Podocarpus suitable esp. P. acutifolius.

Southern Beeches

Nothofagus - all 4 species

Very attractive trees, small leaves, easily trained, need very good drainage to avoid fungus infections. Mountain and Silver are the most suitable. All species have a mycorrhizal fungus.

Kowhai

Sophora -8 species, many hybrids

Faster growing, deciduous, always attractive. Compound leaves, small leaflets, some types flowering as bonsai. Very forgiving. S. prostrata has the smallest leaves, is easily trained but is slow to thicken the trunk.

Pohutukawa

Metrosideros excelsa

Originally called the New Zealand Christmas Tree. Brilliant flowers. Large leaves which reduce if flowering is sacrificed. M. kermadecensis is similar but with smaller leaves.

Rata (several species)

Metrosideros sp

Some trees, some vines, all dramatic flowering. M. robusta is epiphytic so is suitable for root over rock. M. umbellata has small leaves and with time makes great bonsai.

Ramarama

Lophomyrtus bullata var

Attractive small brown shiny leaves. Easily styled and maintained. L. obcordata has small leaves, smooth bark and buds back well. Both have opposite branching.

Corokio

Corokia cotoneaster

Many cultivars. Small leaves. Easily grown and styled. Quick results. C. cotoneaster "North cape" are naturally prostrate and make wonderful bonsai.

Miro

Prumnopitys ferrunginea

Forest canopy tree. Small leaves, Trains well. Slow bud-back and slow growing.

Matai

Prumnopitys taxifolia

Forest canopy tree. Long-persisting juvenile stage. Easily maintained. Best grown from adult cuttings or layering.

Kotukutuku

Fuchsia excorticata

Medium leaves, small flowers, flaky bark. Fast growing and buds back well.

Pokaka

Elaeocarpus hookerianus

Long-persisting small juvenile leaves, Attractive trunk and branching.

Hinau

Elaeocarpus dentatus

Larger leaves. Beautiful flowers when grown from cutting.

Kamahi

Weinmannia racemosa

Attractive serrated leaves that reduce well. Hard to transplant.

Kaikomako

Pennantia corymbosa

Long-persisting small juvenile leaves.

Mountain Totara

Phyllocladus asplenifolius var. alpinus

Attractive unusual leafless tree.

Coprosma

Coprosma sp. -about 10 out of 90 sp.

Quick-growing rather short-lived trees, with some species making attractive bonsai. Easy

Other Natives

Botanical Name

Description

Kauri

Agathis australis

A wondrous giant but juvenile habit is anti-bonsai.

Cabbage Tree

Cordyline australis

Gimmicky addition to a native collection. Leaves too long to be a convincing miniature.

Puriri

Vitex lucens

Large tree, very gnarled and hollowed. Large leaves reduce well.

Broadleaf

Griselinia littoralis

Very hardy Leaves reduce well and has great bark.

Pittosporum

Pittosporum tenuifolia

Shrub, but sometimes a convincing bonsai.

Akeake

Dodonaea viscosa

Easily-grown. Long brownish green leaves reduce a little. Attractive flaky bark.

Silver Pine

Lagaostrobos colensoi

Small leaves. Very slow growing.

Yellow Silver Pine

Lepidothamnus internedius

Small leaves. Very slow growing.

Bog Pine

Halocarpus bidwillii

Small leaves. Very slow growing.

Lancewood

Pseudopanax crassifolius

Long-lasting juvenile form of ridiculously long leaves. Great gimmick bonsai.

Whitey Wood

Melicytus ramiflorus

Very easy and fast growing. Leaves reduce well and it back-buds. Multiple trunks would fuse together.

Tree daisies

Olearia species

These have great papery bark.

Ngaio

Myoporum Iaetum

Rugged coastal tree.