“how to” plant out a wetland
Planting guideline – what to
plant and where
1
Different places, different
plants
2
This is a general guide of what to
plant and where.
Different wetland plant species
have adapted to living in different
conditions. Environment Southland
and the Southland Community
Nursery’s joint production of the
“Southland Native Plants for Forest
and Wetland Restoration” and
“Southland Wetland and Streamside
Native Planting” fact sheets provide
excellent information on use of
local plants and key features for
wetlands. The list of plants and
information on the different species
gives an indication as to what part
(or zone) of your wetland it is best
for them to be planted in, depending
on the moisture level and whether
the area is in the sun or shade. This
information is reproduced on the
next page. Different plants also do
different jobs, some are there to hide
birds, some to feed them, others to
provide nesting areas, while others
are largely for aesthetics – something
else for you to think about when
planting!
3
4
5
What to do - STEPS:
Get to know your site – Look at your
wetland and work out what areas are wet,
moist or dry and which are in the sun or
shade. Work out how your wetlands water
levels fluctuate throughout the year.
Get your site ready. Sort out the weeds
and control any animal pests.
If necessary, establish shelter for your
plantings and prepare the ground.
Fence your site to prevent plant damage
by stock.
Look at any plants that are already
growing in your wetland area and use the
plant list to see what species you should
plant in each of your wetland areas.
Get your plants.
Work out when to plant ����������������
(planting times
are usually autumn for hardy plants, when
the ground is moist, or spring for frost
tender plants); how to plant (dig a hole
larger than the root ball, plant with roots
well covered, use weed mat or mulch
around the plant, protect from rabbits);
and plant your plants.
Look after and maintain your plants.
Weed control in first couple of years and
animal pest control is needed.
Cabbage Tre
Flax
e
Plant Tolerances Table
Botanical name Maori Name Common Name Plant Wet Moist Dry Sun Shade Frost Food TypeType
Aristotelia serrata makomako wineberry shrub I
T
½
½
½
2
F, B, I
Carex secta purei sedge grass T
½
I
T
I
1
F
Carex virgata purei sedge grass T
½
I
T
I
1
F
Chionochloa rubra red tussock Coprosma propinqua mikimiki;
mingmingi grass T
T
½
T
I
1
shrub T
T
T
T
I
1
F, I
Cordyline australis tree T
T
T
T
I
1
F, I
Corokia cotoneaster shrub I
I
T
T
½
1
F
Cortaderia richardii toetoe Fuchsia excorticata kotukutuku grass T
T
T
T
I
1
fuchsia; tree fuchsia tree I
T
I
½
T
2 F, N, B, I
Griselinia littoralis broadleaf tree I
T
T
T
T
1 F, N, B, I
ti kouka; ti papauma;
kapuka cabbage tree toetoe grass Hebe elliptica koromuka Hebe salicifolia koromiko shrub I
T
½
T
½
2
shrub I
T
½
T
½
2
I
Leptospermum
scoparium tree T
T
T
T
I
1
N, I
shrub manuka tea tree *Olearia arborescens Phormium tenax harakeke NZ flax I
T
T
T
I
1
herbaceous T T
½
T
I
1
N
Pittosporum
eugenioides tarata tree I
T
T
T
½
1
F, I
Pittosporum
tenuifolium kohuhu; matipo black matipo; mapou tree I
T
T
T
½
1
F, B, I
lemonwood Plagianthus regius manatu lowland ribbonwood;
ribbonwood tree ½
T
T
T
I
1
F, B, I
Podocarpus hallii totara thin-barked totara;
Hall’s totara tree I
T
T
T
½
1
F, B, I
Pseudopanax
crassifolius horoeka lancewood tree ½
T
T
T
T
1
F, N, I
Sophora microphylla kowhai South Island Kowhai tree I
½
T
T
½
1
F, N, I
White pine ½
T
½
T
½
1
F, I
Dacrydium dacrycarpur kahikatea tree * Note there are a number of different Olearia species that are useful to use in native plantings
I = Intolerant 1 = Frost Hardy F = Fruit/Seeds T= Tolerant 2 = Semi-frost Hardy
N = Nectar ½ = Some Tolerance
B = Buds/foliage I = Insects
What plants should I plant?
The plants listed (from the Southland native
plant fact sheets) are those found to be most
tolerant of Southland climatic conditions, the
fastest growing species and the species which
thrive on neglect. With the best will in the
world, people are busy and do not attend to the
maintenance of their plantings as often as is
desirable.
Where to get your plants
Southland Community Nursery in Otatara is
a voluntary community project where you can
pot up your own native plants from locally
sourced seedlings for free. Advice is available
on native plants and landscaping. Contact
Chris and Brian Rance (03) 2131161. The
Southland Community Nursery web site is
www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz.
Other resources
If you are restoring an existing
wet area you may not need to
Notes
plant many wetland species.
Wetland plants will often
establish naturally once water levels are
restored and stock is removed. Nature
will work its own magic!
Start small – you can always add to it
later on.
There may also be some options
for funding. Contact the Southland
Wetlands Working Party (see “How To”
Contact Us) for further information.
Environment Southland and the Southland
Community Nursery’s joint production of the
“Southland Native Plants for Forest and
Wetland Restoration” and “Southland
Wetland and Streamside Native Planting”
fact sheets provide excellent information on use
of local plants and key features for wetlands
and streamside plantings.
The “Clean Streams” booklet developed by
Environment Southland and Dexel also give
practical advice on how to plant, when to plant
and what to plant.
The “Wetlands of Southland” booklet for a
description of some plant species.
Favourites to Plant