Your Guide to Landscaping in North Canterbury

by Silverstream | Feb 4, 2025 | Silverstream News | 0 comments

Calling all North Canterbury gardeners! Creating a beautiful garden in our unique region often requires more than just good taste and green thumbs—it also demands keen respect for the region’s unique climate and conditions!

Whether you’re looking to build a new home garden from scratch, transform your current outdoor space, or just build on what you’ve got, selecting the right plants for the local environment can mean the difference between a thriving landscape and gardening frustration.

We chatted with our friends at Sublime Nursery (part of the Lime Global Group and suppliers of plants for our new homes) to find out what works.

Understanding North Canterbury’s Unique Climate

Nestled between the Southern Alps and the Pacific Ocean, North Canterbury is an area defined by its dramatic climatic swings. A typical day can begin with frost and transform to scorching heat under the afternoon nor’wester, with temperatures soaring from near zero to the high twenties. Further complicated by diverse soil conditions—ranging from stony riverbeds to heavy clay—gardening in this demanding landscape requires careful planning!

The Importance of Local Growing

The secret to dealing with these extreme conditions? A foundation of locally adapted plants.

Plants grown locally are like athletes who’ve trained specifically for Canterbury’s challenging conditions, building strength and resilience to local extremes from their first sprout.

“Plants that begin life in gentler climates can struggle to adapt to Canterbury’s extremes,” says Jo Caldwell, Managing Director of Sublime Nursery.

“Plants sourced from the North Island often just aren’t hardy enough for Canterbury conditions,”

“Locally grown plants however develop deep resilience from their first moments, building the strength needed to thrive in local gardens”.

More broadly, native plants in general (having evolved over millennia specifically to handle New Zealand’s challenging weather and soil conditions) are good options, providing habitats that attract native birds and bees and contribute to a more vibrant and sustainable garden ecosystem.

Top Plants for North Canterbury Gardens

Creating a successful North Canterbury garden isn’t about fighting the region’s unique conditions—it’s about working with them.

When choosing plants for your garden, consider these tried-and-tested performers that have earned their place in Canterbury’s landscape.

Best Hedging Options

Griselinia varieties especially Griselinia Canterbury (extremely hardy, fast-growing, perfect for shelter)
Pittosporum varieties especially Pittosporum ‘Stephens Island’ (attractive, dark green foliage and a reliable hedge option)
Teucrium fruiticans – Silver Germander (excellent for low hedging, providing silvery foliage all year round with pale blue bee-attracting flowers)
Lonicera nitida – Box Honeysuckle (rapid growth rate, makes excellent hedging)
Corokia Geenty’s Green (yellow flowers in Spring followed by red berries in Autumn)

Native Options

Coprosma (many varieties, attracts native birds)
Carex (numerous varieties for all conditions from dry to wetland—excellent for mass planting, bulletproof)
Marble Leaf (good for underplanting)
Poa cita/Silver Tussock (ideal for revegetation)
Manuka (attracts bees)
Kanuka (hardy native option)

Reliable Colour Shrubs

Nandina/Heavenly Bamboo varieties (attractive year-round foliage):
- Gulf Stream
- Lemon Lime
- Firepower
Lavender (attracts bees, thrives in dry conditions)
Camellia (good winter/early spring flowering)
Escallonia (can be grown as either shrub or hedge)
Hebe Wiri Mist (popular, reliable, and low maintenance)
Hebe Red Edge (a robust plant with lilac-coloured flowers which gradually fade to white)

Trees That Work

Paper Bark Maple (hardy variety)
Norway Maple (reliable performer)
Prunus /Flowering Cherries (beautiful seasonal display)
Malus/Ornamental Apple (excellent for gardens)
Weeping Pear (sturdy branches handle local conditions)
Magnolia ‘Little Gem’ (smaller variety, good for gardens)

“Just like when an architect considers which way a property faces when designing a house, Canterbury gardeners need to take the same approach.”

Plan Smart, Plant Smarter

Careful planning is the key, says Paul Saunders, Nursery Manager at Sublime.

“Soil preparation is a foundation that’s particularly important in new developments where topsoil may have been scraped away during construction, leaving less-than-ideal growing conditions behind,” he says.

“Then, rather than rushing to fill every corner with plants, I suggest taking an observational approach.”

There’s often the temptation to rush in and quickly plant everything straight away, says Paul, but the key is to take your time.

“Start with your hedging and shelter first,” he says. “This foundational step will create beneficial microclimates throughout your garden and an initial shelter belt that not only protects against Canterbury’s winds but also helps manage frost patterns across your section”.

Indeed, careful attention to sun exposure and positioning should help you decide which plants should go where.

“Just like when an architect considers which way a property faces when designing a house, Canterbury gardeners need to take the same approach,” says Jo.

“Plants on your north face need to be the ones that don’t mind full-on sun, which can be quite harsh, especially along with those easterly winds. Good fencing can help in that respect.”

“Think of your garden as a blank canvas—just with some unique factors you have to take into account to get the best result.”

Simply put, success comes from working with the unique Canterbury environment rather than against it. By choosing locally adapted plants and taking the time to understand your property’s specific conditions, you can create a garden that not only survives but thrives through our region’s dramatic seasonal changes.