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 Bugleweed
A beautiful groundcover with striking silvery wine colour foliage that deepens in colour in cooler temperatures. Topped with upright blue flower spikes through spring and into summer. Easily grown in most well drained soils in full sun to part shade. Evergreen
Habit: Groundcover
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): Spreading
Ajuga Port Wine
Current Stock Height: 0/5 cm ?
Container: 1.5l ?
$16.99
aka Hair Sedge
Native Hair Sedge.. The name Comans means "luxuriant head of hair" and this native Tussock Grass certainly has a fine head of green needle foliage. Tolerant of just about any conditions including coastal. Quickly forms a clump and is invaluable for adding texture to the garden. Evergreen.
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 40cm x 60cm
Carex Comans Green
Current Stock Height: 10/20 cm ?
Container: 0.5l ?
$9.99
aka Hair Sedge
Native. A lovely soft bronze- red grass with fine tufts of arching foliage. Grows in a wide range of conditions including coastal. Comans means "like a luxuriant head of hair" hence the common name of 'Hair Sedge'. Looks its best in large drifts. Evergreen.
Habit: Grass weeping
Leaves: Evergreen, Brown
Mature Size (HxW): 30cm x 20cm
Carex Comans Red
Current Stock Height: 10cm
Container: 0.5l ?
$9.99
aka Autumn Sedge
Wetland Native - Autumn Sedge. Attractive tufts of coarse green foliage with strong bronze tones. Summer seed-heads of dark brown. Will grow happily in moist damp conditions in sun or part shade. Tough and robust, great for mass planting in difficult spots. Evergreen.
Habit: Grass upright
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 0.75m x 0.6m
Carex Dipsacea
Current Stock Height: 40/50 cm ?
Container: 1.5l ?
$12.99
Carex Dipsacea
Current Stock Height: 15/25 cm ?
Container: 0.5l ?
$9.99
aka Green Sedge
Native Grass. Tufts of fine curled bright green foliage form a sturdy clump that looks most attractive as it swishes and sways in the breeze. Tough and hardy - looks its best when mass planted. Useful for rockeries and on banks. Sun to part shade and almost any soil. Evergreen.
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 40cm x 50cm
Carex Flagelllifera Green
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 0.5l ?
$9.99
aka Tussock, NZ Sedge
This native 'grass' is really tough and hardy tolerating cold winds and almost any soil. The brick-orange foliage looks very graceful as it waves and dances in the wind. Ideal for planting in large drifts. If the clumps become a little untidy just chop back hard for renewed vigour. Evergreen.
Leaves: Evergreen, Brown
Mature Size 7-10 yrs (HxW): 60cm x 50cm
Carex Testacea
Current Stock Height: 20/30 cm ?
Container: 1.9l ?
$24.99
Carex Testacea
Current Stock Height: 40/50 cm ?
Container: 2.5l ?
$26.99
Carex Testacea
Current Stock Height: 15/20 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: 30/45 cm ?
Container: 0.5l ?
$9.99
A handsome perennial with broad strap like foliage and large yellow flower heads which appear from early spring. Happiest out of direct sunlight, ideal for planting under deciduous trees.
Habit: Clump
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 50cm x 75cm
Clivia Yellow
Current Stock Height: 30/40 cm ?
Container: 2.5l ?
$26.99
aka Dwarf Papyrus
Dwarf Papyrus. A striking plant for pond margins or bog gardens. Tall leafless stems are topped off by highly ornamental umbels that carry the tiny brown flowers. Happiest in the sun and moist soil. Doesn't like the cold or harsh frost. Evergreen.
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 80cm x 60cm
Cyperus Haspan Dwarf
Expected Stock Height: 50/70 cm ?
Currently sold out. Add to your waitlist to be advised when next in stock.
Excellent silver-leaved plant for use in hanging baskets, as a groundcover or in a mixed pot. A vigorous cascading grower that performs best in a full sun position being very drought and heat tolerant; recovering quickly if wilting occurs. Expect a long season with this beauty.
Leaves: Evergreen, Grey Green
Mature Size (HxW): 5cm x 120cm
Dichondra Silver Falls
Current Stock Height: 0/5 cm ?
Container: 2.4l ?
$24.99
Dichondra Silver Falls
Expected Stock Height: 0/5 cm ?
New stock expected Spring, 2026. Waitlist now. Estimated price $12.99. Payment on order.
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
Winter Rose single. Stunning new Hellebore. Compact, single cream flowers lovely large yellow centres with deep glossy green foliage. Gorgeous mass planted to brighten even the dullest space. Perennial
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Deciduous, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 45cm x 45cm
Helleborus Camelot
Current Stock Height: 10/15 cm ?
Container: 2.4l ?
$32.99
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
Flowering tirelessly through winter and well into spring producing gorgeous rose pink, outward facing blooms, held above the leaf. Use as a specimen or bulk plant as a wave in the shade under trees in a woodlands to add colour. Evergreen
This hellebore, similar to Ice n Roses Rose but will flower 1 month earlier.
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 60cm x 60cm
Helleborus Early Rose
Current Stock Height: 20/25 cm ?
Container: 2.4l ?
$32.99
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
Winter Rose single. A selected form of 'Winter Rose' with clean white blooms that nestle just above the dark green foliage on a small compact bushy plant. Flowers from late winter to spring. Plant in semi-shade in humus rich well drained soil for best results. Perennial.
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 45cm x 45cm
Helleborus Ice Breaker Pico
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 2.4l ?
$32.99
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
From the Ice N Roses collection Ice N Roses Rose hellebore will flower tirelessly through winter and well into spring producing gorgeous white flowers, rimmed with dark pink edges outward facing blooms, held above the leaf. These will look great providing gorgeous winter colour in your garden or patio containers. Evergreen
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 60cm x 100cm
Helleborus Picotee
Current Stock Height: 15/25 cm ?
Container: 2.4l ?
$32.99
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
Winter Rose niger single. A selected form with delicious single blooms in pure white with yellow stamens. A lovely contrast to the dark green foliage. Flowers appear from winter through to spring just when the garden and the gardener needs cheering up. Plant in well drained soil in semi-shade. Perennial.
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Semi-Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 30cm x 30cm
Helleborus Jacob
Current Stock Height: 10/15 cm ?
Container: 2.4l ?
$32.99
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
Winter Rose niger single. A selected form with delicious single blooms in pure white with yellow stamens. A lovely contrast to the dark green foliage. Flowers appear from winter through to spring just when the garden and the gardener needs cheering up. Plant in well drained soil in semi-shade. Perennial.
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Deciduous, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 30cm x 30cm
Helleborus Jasper
Current Stock Height: 10/15 cm ?
Container: 2.4l ?
$32.99
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
Lily is a stunning, new, double hellebore with white petals dramatically detailed with luscious raspberry pink. Each petal has a central flare down the middle with spreading veins, a picotee edge, and beautifully veined reverses. Plant in well drained soil in semi-shade. Perennial
Spring Promise Lily
PVR:
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 40cm x 40cm
Helleborus Lily
Current Stock Height: 15/25 cm ?
Container: 2.4l ?
$32.99
aka Spanish Shawl
A prostrate ground hugging perennial with a dense mat of green leaves that in summer becomes smothered by bright cerise pink flowers. Quite a show off really and easy to grow in a sunny well drained spot. Needs protection from frost. Evergreen.
Habit: Groundcover
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 5cm x Spreading
Heterocentron Elegans
Current Stock Height: 0/5 cm ?
Container: 1l ?
$14.99
Heterocentron Elegans
New stock expected Spring, 2026. Waitlist now. Estimated price $22.99. Payment on order.
aka Tractor Seat Ligularia
If you are looking for fabulous foliage then the leaves of the 'Tractor Seat' Ligularia are hard to beat. Large, glossy, green and textured, the leaves put on an outstanding display in a shady spot. Stems of yellow flowers in autumn-winter. Evergreen.
This plant is commonly known as Ligularia but is more correctly called Farfugium japonicum var giganteum
Habit: Clump
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): Spreading
Ligularia Reniformis
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 1.5l ?
$24.99
Ligularia Reniformis
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 2.4l ?
$29.99
Ligularia Reniformis
Current Stock Height: 20/30 cm ?
Container: 2.5l ?
$34.99
Ligularia Reniformis
Current Stock Height: 20/25 cm ?
Container: 6l ?
$54.99
This variegated grass-like perennial Lomandra is beautiful and soft with small yellow flowers from September to April. The light coloured foliage provides great contrast in the garden. Handles full sun but prefers light to moderate shade. Tolerant of drought and frost. Evergreen
Habit: Grass upright
Leaves: Evergreen, Variegated
Lomandra Arctic Frost
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 1.5l ?
$19.99
Lomandra Arctic Frost
Current Stock Height: 10/20 cm ?
Container: 2l ?
$22.99
Stock of this item is very low.
Lomandra Arctic Frost
Current Stock Height: 20/25 cm ?
Container: 1.9l ?
$26.99
Lomandra Arctic Frost
Current Stock Height: 30/35 cm ?
Container: 4.5l ?
$44.99
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
.jpg "Ophiopogon Japonicus (Mondo)")
aka Mondo Grass
Great little ground cover with fine narrow dark green leaves that form soft mats that hug the ground. Trouble free and easy to grow. Palest mauve flowers hide amongst the foliage and are followed by little blue berries. Grow in full sun or part shade. Evergreen.
Habit: Clump
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): Spreading
Ophiopogon Japonicus (Mondo Grass)
Expected Stock Height: 5/10 cm ?
Ophiopogon Japonicus
Current Stock Height: 01/05 cm ?
Container: tube ?
$6.99
A bushy perennial with stems of rich garnet, bell-like flowers that appear almost continuously from spring to autumn. Great for the mixed border. For best results plant in a sunny position and trim hard after flowering to encourage new flower buds to form. Hardy and easy to grow.
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 80cm
Penstemmon Garnet Spires
Expected Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Currently sold out. Add to your waitlist to be advised when next in stock.
A charming summer flowering perennial with narrow grey-green foliage and stems of slender bell like flowers shaded rose-pink with a cream throat. Likes the sun, fertile soil and good air circulation to do well. Remove spent flower stems to encourage re-bloom. Perennial. RHS AGM.
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Deciduous, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 90cm x 40cm
Penstemon Hidcote Pink
Expected Stock Height: 20/30 cm ?
Currently sold out. Add to your waitlist to be advised when next in stock.
aka Pratia or Lobelia
A dainty little mat forming ground-cover with tiny green leaves that get smothered with bright blue, star shaped flowers all summer long. Easy to grow and quite hardy but it is important that it does not completely dry out in summer. Sun or part shade. Evergreen.
Habit: Groundcover
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 10cm x 40cm
Pratia Country Park
Current Stock Height: 0/5 cm ?
Container: 1.5l ?
$14.99
aka Knawel
Native. The little crowded leaves of this moss-like plant pack together to form undulating mounds of foliage that gradually spread. Looks superb in shingle or gravel gardens set amongst larger rocks. Happiest in morning sun and must have good drainage. Evergreen.
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 5cm x 1m
Scleranthus Biflorus
Current Stock Height: 0/5 cm ?
Container: 1.3l ?
$12.99
Scleranthus Biflorus
Current Stock Height: 0/5 cm ?
Container: 5l ?
$29.99
Scleranthus Biflorus
Expected Stock Height: 0/5 cm ?
We are awaiting confirmation from our supplier for an expected delivery date. Express your interest by adding to your Waitlist.
aka Mexican Stone Crop
This has to be one of the easiest & quickest plants to grow. Golden lime coloured fat little succulent leaves that quickly form a spreading mound. Yellow flowers in summer. Will grow in sun or part shade & once established will tolerate drought. Also looks quite funky in a container. Evergreen.
Habit: Perennial Short
Leaves: Evergreen, Light
Mature Size (HxW): Spreading
Sedum Gold Form
Expected Stock Height: 0/5 cm ?
Currently sold out. Add to your waitlist to be advised when next in stock.
aka Silver Queen Thyme
This pretty little Thyme is usually grown more as an ornamental than a herb because of its attractive, dainty, silver-green leaves that are edged with white. Lilac flowers in summer. Highly aromatic. Plant in sunny well drained spot. Evergreen.
Habit: Groundcover
Leaves: Evergreen, Variegated
Mature Size (HxW): 30cm x 60cm
Thyme Silver Queen
Current Stock Height: 5/10 cm ?
Container: 1.5l ?
$14.99
HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: