The Native Plant Story
SELECTING THE NATIVE PLANTS
There has been ongoing work since 2020 to remove pest plants such as privet and woolly nightshade from the Windross and Pa Walkways. Following their removal the planting of native plants has been started.
Planning continues to ensure that the native plants selected are a best fit for the range of environments the two Walkways present.
SOURCING THE NATIVE PLANTS
The native plants will be sourced from a range of providers including commercial growers, other specialist native plant growing community groups, our very own local Kings Plant Barn in Botany who have been very supportive and through our own efforts via cuttings and dividing.
IINFORMATION ON THE NATIVE PLANTS THAT WILL BE USED IN THE RESTORTATION PROJECT
NÄ«kau
The nīkau palm is the southernmost member of the palm family and New Zealand's only native palm species. It primarily occurs in coastal to lowland forest in warmer regions. The nīkau is very slow-growing. Research conducted in lowland forests near Auckland found it takes 40–50 years to begin to form a trunk and about 200 years to reach 10 m tall. On average two fronds are shed per year leaving behind a leaf scar on the trunk which can be used to give a rough indication of age since the trunk began forming. Next time you are walking along the walkway keep a lookout for these nīkau and see if you can calculate how old they are!
Pest plants removed revealing nīkau
NÄ«kau on the Windross Walkway
Fuchsia procumbens
Common names include creeping fuchsia, climbing fuchsia or trailing fuchsia. Whatever you choose to call it, we selected it because of its qualities which are particularly well suited to our planting project. It also has an interesting history: Did you know it’s the smallest fuchsia in the world? It has a South Pacific lineage that diverged from all other fuchsias about 30 million years ago. Fuchsia procumbens is a fast growing ground cover with round, soft-green leaves and red/yellow flowers in summer, followed by large red berries which attract birds. Its creeping habit allows it to cover large areas. It prefers semi-shade under trees but can also handle full sun. A perfect little plant!
Fuchsia procumbens
The images below show F. procumbens that have been selected for the Walkways Project. They will be cared for offsite until April 2023 when they will be planted!
