Perennials - Just Arrived
In designing with plants, it is the perennials that ensure that there is constant change, and that there is always an element of surprise or interest in the garden.
Getting to know the dormant and flowering periods of the plants is essential to achieving the right balance in the design, so that as one perennial goes to sleep, another awakens.
Perennials, perhaps more than any other group of plants, are available in a huge range of colours, forms, textures and fragrances in both foliage and flower. There are perennials suitable for almost every area of the garden: from full sun to full shade, in large gardens or small beds and to suit every mood or style. Popular perennial plants include Penstemon, Gaura, Canna, Dahlias, Salvias, Lupins, Columbines, Lilies, Delphiniums and Hellebores - oh! the list is endless.
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A perennial plant (Latin per, "through", annum, "year") is a plant that lives for more than two years, unlike an Annual which grows, sets seed, gayly disperses it and then dies - all in a single season. Perennial plants are divided into two large groups: those that are woody and those that are herbaceous. They can be short-lived (only a few years) or they can be long-lived, and can vary in size from only a few millimeters to over 10 meters tall. They include a wide assortment of plant groups from Ferns to the highly diverse flowering plants like Orchids and Ornamental Grasses.
Perennials typically grow structures that allow them to adapt to living from one year to the next. These structures include bulbs, tubers, woody crowns, rhizomes plus others. They might have specialized stems or crowns that allow them to survive periods of dormancy over cold or dry seasons during the year. Many perennials have adapted to survive under extreme environmental conditions: some can survive hot dry conditions, or cold temperatures. These plants tend to invest a lot of resource into their adaptations and often do not flower and set seed until after a few years of growth.
Many perennials produce relatively large seeds, which can have an advantage as they produce larger seedlings after germination that can better compete with other plants or more quickly develop leaves, ensuring their survival.
In warmer climates, perennials grow continuously. In seasonal climates, their growth is limited to the growing season. For example, in temperate regions a perennial plant may grow and bloom during the warm part of the year, with the foliage dying back in the winter. These plants are deciduous perennials. Regrowth is from existing stem tissue. In some species, perennials retain their foliage all year round; these are evergreen perennials. Come in and take a look around. We've always got something pretty, perky and persuasive in the perennial line.
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aka Thrift
Snow is a new selection which has short stems of pure white. The attractive foliage comprises of fine grass-like leaves providing an interesting textural presence year-round. Coastal hardy, easy care. Perennial
Habit: Clump
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 30cm x 20cm
Armeria Armazing Snow
Current Stock Height: 5/10 cm ?
Container: 1.5l ?
$19.99
aka Purei, Pukio
Native wetland grass. A bright green grass that forms a large clump. With age, a trunk-like mass of old leaves forms so the grass seems perched on a tall mound. Good for planting in damp to wet areas but will tolerate short periods of dryness. Plant around ponds as shelter for birds. Evergreen
Evergreen
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 100cm x 100cm
Carex Secta
Current Stock Height: 20/30 cm ?
Container: 0.5l ?
$9.99
NZ Native Grass that is a successful colonising plant often used for wetland planting that can also grow on dry sites making it suitable for planting where the conditions may vary periodically. Virgata is a mass of green needle foliage. Tolerant coastal condition. Evergreen.
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 100cm x 100cm
Carex Virgata
Current Stock Height: 40/50 cm ?
Container: 0.5l ?
$9.99
aka AKA Yoyo
'Snow in Summer' AKA Yoyo is so named as the tiny silver grey leaves are smothered in star-shaped white flowers throughout the summer. A sweet little perennial which is perfect to cascade over walls and hot dry banks. Quite vigorous and hardy. Evergreen.
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Evergreen, Light
Mature Size (HxW): Spreading
Cerastium Snow in Summer
Expected Stock Height: Dispatch
Currently sold out. Add to your waitlist to be advised when next in stock.
aka Blue Oat Grass
Blue Oat Grass. Highly desirable perennial 'grass' that has arching, blue-grey, needles of foliage that form a robust clump. Panicles of cream 'oat' like flowers appear in summer. Hardy and easy to grow as long as your soil is well drained. Looks great as an edging or mass planted. Evergreen.
Though this is generally a neat and tidy 'grass' it can be sheared back to encourage new growth if it starts to look a bit scruffy. This is usually done in late winter - just before spring.
Habit: Clump
Leaves: Evergreen, Blue
Mature Size (HxW): 60cm x 60cm
Helictotrichon Sempervirens
Current Stock Height: 15/25 cm ?
Container: 10.5cm ?
$9.99
aka Spanish Lavender
Lavandula. Purple Pixie is a Spanish Lavender with a compact habit. The grey green aromatic foliage is topped off with dark purple flower heads with large mid purple 'rabbit ear' bracts. Trim after the first flush of flowers to encourage reblooming. Prefers a well drained sunny position. Evergreen.
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 0.3m x 0.3m
Lavender Purple Pixie
Current Stock Height: 20/25 cm ?
Container: 1.5l ?
$24.99
Rukuhia Beauty is the perfect, shade loving, groundcover for smaller gardens with its lush foliage of dark green. Likes moist earth and a dressing of slow release fert to support its growth periods. Low maintenance plant with high return, looks great planted enmasse. Perennial
Habit: Groundcover
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 35cm x 55cm
Ligularia Rukuhia Beauty
Current Stock Height: 10/20 cm ?
Container: 1.5l ?
$26.99
aka Honey Reed
This tough little Aussie is a great plant for mass planting in difficult spots. Tolerant of poor soil and coastal conditions, sun or part shade. The deep green narrow strap like leaves quickly form a clump. Small, yellow, fragrant flowers in spring. Evergreen. PVR LM300.
PVR:
Habit: Clump
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 60cm x 65cm
Lomandra Tanika
Current Stock Height: 30/40 cm ?
Container: 1l ?
$19.99
Lomandra Tanika
Current Stock Height: 30/40 cm ?
Container: 1.9l ?
$26.99
aka Rosemary
A easy care and easy to grow Rosemary that is great for covering banks and draping over walls. Quite prostrate in habit so give it room to spread. Nice fresh green foliage and pretty blue flowers off and on all year but mostly in spring and autumn. Loves the sun and good drainage. Evergreen.
Though this Rosemary is mostly used for ornamental purposes it is still a culinary herb that can be used in cooking.
Habit: Groundcover
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 30cm x 200cm
Rosmarinus Lockwood De Forest
Current Stock Height: 10/20 cm ?
Container: 2.5l ?
$26.99
Rosmarinus Lockwood De Forest
Expected Stock Height: 10/15 cm ?
New stock expected Spring, 2026. Waitlist now. Estimated price $32.99. Payment on order.
aka Rosemary
'Tuscan Blue' is a form of the upright Rosmarinus officinalis selected for the dark blue flowers which appear on and off for most of the year. Happiest in the sun with good drainage. Tolerant of cold and coastal conditions. Trim regularly to keep compact and encourage new growth. Evergreen.
This Rosemary can be used for culinary purposes, mmmm is that Roast Lamb I smell cooking? Also makes a great hedge or background shrub.
Habit: Shrub
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 1.3m x 1m
Rosmarinus Tuscan Blue
Current Stock Height: 20/25 cm ?
Container: 2.5l ?
$26.99
Rosmarinus Tuscan Blue
Expected Stock Height: 20/30 cm ?
New stock expected Spring, 2026. Waitlist now. Estimated price $32.99. Payment on order.
HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: