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The following is a list of native trees,
plants and introduced trees and plants that may attract birds to
your garden or farm. The list is not exhaustive.
E = Evergreen, D = Deciduous |
|
| Common Name |
Botanical Name |
E/D |
Height |
Bird Visitors |
|
| |
| Cabbage tree |
Cordyline australis |
E |
6m+ |
variety of birds |
| Five finger |
Pseudopanax arboreus |
E |
4m+ |
variety of birds |
| Flax (various) |
Phormium |
E |
to 5m |
Tui, bellbird |
| Fushsia (tree) |
Fushsia excorticata |
E |
12m |
Tui, bellbird |
| Karaka |
Corynocarpus laevigatus |
E |
18m |
native pigeon |
| Karo |
Pittosporum crassifolium |
E |
10m |
variety of birds |
| Kowhai (various) |
Sophora |
E |
to 10m |
Tui, native pigeon |
| Nikau palm |
Rhopalostylis sapida |
E |
10m |
native pigeon, Kaka |
| Pohutukawa |
Metrosideros |
E |
to 25m |
variety of birds |
| Puriri |
Vitex lucens |
E |
20m |
variety of birds |
| Rewarewa |
Knightia excelsa |
E |
to 30m |
variety of birds |
| |
| Native Climber |
| Tecomanthe |
Tecomanthe speciosa |
E |
5m |
Tui |
| |
| Introduced plants |
| Aloe (various) |
Aloe |
E |
50cm+ |
Tui, bellbird |
| Canna lily (red) |
Canna |
|
to 1m |
Tui, bellbird |
| Cosmos annual |
Cosmos bipinnatus |
|
50cm+ |
finches |
| French marigold annual |
Tagetes patula |
|
30cm |
finches |
| Kangaroo paw |
Anigozanthus |
E |
1m+ |
Tui, bellbird |
| Lavender (various) |
Lavendula spica |
E |
50cm+ |
finches |
| Love-lies-bleeding annual |
Amaranthus caudatus |
|
to 1m |
finches |
| Phygelius (sub-shrub) |
Phygelius aequalis |
E |
1m |
bellbird |
| Red hot poker (various) |
Kniphofia |
|
1m+ |
Tui, bellbird |
| Sunflower (giant) annual |
Helianthus annuus |
|
1m+ |
finches etc |
| |
| Trees/Shrubs |
|
|
|
|
| Banksia (various) |
Banksia |
E |
to 8m |
Tui, bellbird |
| Bastard jasmine |
Cestrum purpureum |
E |
3m |
Tui, bellbird |
| Bottlebush (various) |
Callistemon |
E |
to 5m |
variety of birds |
| Brazilian coral tree |
Erythrina crista-galli |
D |
5m |
variety of birds |
| Camellia (various) |
Camellia |
E |
3m |
Tui, bellbird |
| Chinese lantern |
Abutilon |
E |
2m+ |
Tui, bellbird |
| Chinese holly* |
Mahonia lomariifolia |
E |
3m |
variety of birds |
| Coral tree |
Erythrina sykesii |
D |
15m |
variety of birds |
| Crab apple |
Malus |
D |
to 5m |
blackbirds |
| Elderberry |
Sambucus |
D |
5m |
variety of birds |
| Eucalyptus (various) |
Eucalyptus |
E |
to 15m |
variety of birds |
| Firewheel tree |
Stenocarpus sinuatus |
E |
6m |
variety of birds |
| Grevillea (various) |
Grevillea |
E |
to 3m |
variety of birds |
| Irish strawberry tree |
Arbutus |
E |
3m+ |
blackbirds |
| Mulberry |
Morus nigra |
D |
5m |
variety of birds |
| Phoenix palm |
Phoenix canariensis |
E |
6m |
variety of birds |
| Shad bush |
Amelanchier canadensis |
D |
4m |
blackbird |
| Taiwan cherry* |
Prunus campanulata |
D |
6m+ |
Tui, bellbird |
| Tree lucerne |
Cytisus proliferus |
E |
3m+ |
native pigeon |
| Waratah (various) |
Telopea |
E |
to 4m |
Tui, bellbird |
| |
| Climber |
| Chilean bell flower |
Lapageria rosea |
E |
5m |
bellbird |
| |
| Some succulents are also visited by Tui and bellbirds |
|
|
|
Plants that may be a threat to birds:
Native
Parapara, Pisonia brunnonianum. This is also called the “bird catcher tree”.
The seedpods are extremely sticky and small birds become caught on the
pods. Larger birds (like the morepork) also become trapped when they
try to predate on the ensnared bird. One way to get over this problem,
is to cut off the seedpods before they reach the sticky stage. The plant
uses the dead birds as nutrients for the seeds when the ripe seed falls
off with the dead bird.
Introduced
Rhododendron, Rhododendron.
Each year tui are brought into bird rescue centres with poisoning from
rhododendrons. It is extremely poisonous. I have found that if a camellia
is visited by tui in the flowering season, and a rhododendron is flowering
nearby of the same colour, the tui may visit this shrub to feed.
In my experience, it was a red rhododendron. This has now been removed.
If tui are not treated quickly they will die with rhododendron poisoning.
(Rhododendron is also toxic to stock etc).
*As some introduced trees
and plants can become plant pests in some area please contact your local
Regional Council for a list of plant pests.
More information:
Department of Conservation: tree planting for native birds
Department of Conservation: tree planting for native birds: list of trees
How to make your garden more environmentally friendly
Contact: Rosemary Tully
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