With the Olympics in full swing in Rio I thought I’d dish out some medals to celebrate some kiwi champions of the garden variety!

• GOLD MEDAL – the Kowhai (Sophora).  You have to love a tree that smothers itself in gorgeous gold flowers, and there’s one for every part of NZ. A kowhai in flower is an iconic NZ sight, in fact it’s our national flower. It flowers in August and September and is a sign that spring is coming, losing its leaves right before flowering. Kowhai actually fix nitrogen in the soil creating their own fertiliser. That’s the kiwi DIY way! They’re tough, drought tolerant and there’s one to suit any size garden, even dwarf ones (Sophora prostrata).

• GOLD MEDAL - the Pohutukawa, Metrosideros excelsa.  Any tree that can cling tenaciously to cliff faces and rocky outcrops and not only survive but grow really big deserves a medal!  If it dies back it has the ability to resprout, lots of adaptations for coastal conditions, it grows aerial roots from its trunk and branches to collect moisture, and it disperses lots of seed using the wind.  If you’d love to grow one in the garden choose one of the smaller growing cultivars like Metrosideros ‘Maori Princess’ or ‘Vibrance’.

• SILVER MEDAL – the silver fern, Cyathea dealbata.  Easy to grow, tolerates drier conditions than most ferns. Grows in sun or light shade. Plant some kiwi pride in your garden!

• SILVER MEDAL – Astelia banksii and Astelia ‘Silver Spear’. Tough and shiny silver!

• SILVER MEDAL FOR ENDURANCE EVENTS - Cordyline australis, ti kouka, the Cabbage tree. Literally grows from Cape Reinga to the bluff.  Did you know it used to grow in the swamps where Eden Park is now? You’ll find in rich soils, damp soils, wet areas, open hilly dry sites, poor soils.... everywhere. It only gets a silver though because of the lawnmower/leaf issue people seem to have!

• OTHER MEDAL CONTENDERS:  Nikau –  NZ’s well behaved native palm. The Chatham Island nikau is a good form. Macropiper Melchior – Three Kings kawakawa with glossy heart shaped leaves, lovely in a subtropical garden. Hebes – because they play so nicely with others, suiting lots of different garden styles.  Pittosporum cornifolium – you’ve probably never even heard of it, but it’s an elegant pitto with large glossy green leaves a bit like a vireya, and sweet smelling flowers. One to watch out for on the medals table! Poor Knights lily (Xeronema callistemon) with giant red toothbush flowers, thriving on neglect. We breed ‘em tough!