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Where Our Plants Go: Wooing Tree Development, Cromwell

When designing a modern residential streetscape in Central Otago, selecting the right landscaping plants is all about balancing architectural beauty with extreme climate resilience. A prime example of this is the streetscape planting within the premium Wooing Tree residential development in Cromwell.For this project, the landscape design features two incredibly hardy, distinctly Central Otago native species grown and acclimated right here at Queenstown Nursery: Hebe topiaria and Muehlenbeckia as...

The Best NZ Native Plants for Riparian Planting & Wetland Restoration

Photo (L to R): Juncus edgariae, Carex secta, Phormium tenax, Juncus pallidus, Phormium cookianum...

Plant Focus: Plants That Handle Both Wet and Dry Conditions

Central Otago’s winter soils can swing wildly: waterlogged after rain, then suddenly dry. Choosing plants that can cope with both ends of the moisture spectrum is one of the simplest ways to keep a garden looking tidy and resilient year‑round.Two hardy natives stand out for their ability to shift effortlessly between wet and dry conditions:Austroderia richardii (Toetoe) Tall, elegant and incredibly tough, toetoe thrives along damp stream margins yet handles exposed, free‑draining sites ju...

Plant Focus: Shrubs for Dry Zones

Across the Southern Lakes and Central Otago, dry, free-draining soils are the norm, not the exception. Many gardens rely on minimal irrigation, and exposed sites can challenge even the toughest species.To help clients choose with confidence, we’re introducing a new monthly series highlighting plants that thrive in specific local conditions.This month: reliable shrubs for non‑irrigated or dry zones.These proven performers handle low water, wind, frost and the lean soils typical of our region....

Plant Spotlight: Designing Pollinator-Friendly Landscapes in Central Otago

Supporting local biodiversity is becoming a major focus for both residential garden designs and commercial developments. With the cooler months upon us, winter is actually the perfect time to start planning your landscape overhauls.If you are looking to design vibrant outdoor spaces that actively encourage bees, native birds and other beneficial pollinators, sourcing climate-hardy varieties from a local plant nursery is the best place to start. Choosing plants that are already adapted to our uni...

Where Our Plants Go: BuzzStop Frankton, Queenstown

One of the best parts of growing plants locally is seeing where they end up. Landscapes across Queenstown and the wider Southern Lakes region all have their own stories, and we’re starting a new series to share a few of them. First up: BuzzStop in Frankton, Queenstown — a place where bees, people and plants all meet.Owner Nick has recently planted a run of our mānuka to support his on‑site hives and future mānuka honey production. It’s a simple planting, but a meaningful one. Mānuka i...