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 Bronze Tussock Grass
Native tussock grass with an attractive densely tufted fine bronze foliage. This grass does best in full sun and will grow in quite swampy conditions. Useful for special effects in landscaping when mass planted. Brown flower heads in summer. Evergreen.
Habit: Grass weeping
Leaves: Evergreen, Brown
Mature Size (HxW): 60cm x 40cm
Carex Tenuicalmis
Current Stock Height: 10/20 cm ?
Container: 0.5l ?
$9.99
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
This hellebore is just stunning, with masses of deep burgundy red flowers on red stems from winter through to mid spring. This is the first red hellebore with dark green marbled leaves. Forms a compact clump. Plant in full to part shade. Prefers well drained soil. Evergreen. Perennial. PVR.
PVR:
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Deciduous, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 50cm x 60cm
Helleborus Annas Red
Expected Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
New stock expected Spring, 2026. Waitlist now. Estimated price $32.99. Payment on order.
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
With an abundance of lovely white flowers of a large cup, this plant will `light up` any garden or container whether its planted under trees and shrubs or in a container in the shady. Deadhead after flowering to produce more flowers. Evergreen with a marbled foliage.
Prefers semi shade and a moist, humus rich soil that drains well .
Habit: Clump
Leaves: Evergreen, Variegated
Mature Size (HxW): 50cm x 50cm
Helleborus Moondance
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 2.5l ?
$32.99
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
Winter Rose single. You're going to want to add this gorgeous Hellebore to your collection. Fabulous dark rose pink, speckled blooms, that resemble little ballerina skirts, on upright stems. The centre of the flowers is bejewelled with yellow stamens. Handsome dark green foliage. Plant in semi-shade in humus rich, well drained soil. PVR.
PVR:
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 40cm x 60cm
Helleborus Tutu
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 1l ?
$22.99
Helleborus Tutu
Current Stock Height: 20/25 cm ?
Container: 2.5l ?
$32.99
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: 25/35 cm ?
Container: 2l ?
$24.99
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
aka Primula Mixed
A mix of double Primulas give great winter colour and are ideal for decorative containers or mass planting in the garden. These easy to grow perennials perform best in full sun or part shade, in moist well drained soil. Remove finished flowers to encourage further bloom.
Leaves: Evergreen
Mature Size (HxW): 18cm x 15cm
Primula Elodie Dble Mixed
Current Stock Height: 5/10cm ?
Container: 12cm ?
$9.99
aka Poor Knights Lily
Poor Knights Lily is a stunning plant and well worth growing. A very slow growing plant with fans of flax-like leaves up to 1m high. Its striking red flowers occur on tall stems in Spring but it takes up to 7 years to flower. When root-bound it will flower more quickly and prolifically.
On the islands, the plants are fed with seabird droppings, which are high in nitrogen and phosphorous. You can simulate this with bird guano, which is sold at some garden shops, or online. Or you may use any slow-release fertilizer that is rich in nitrogen and phosphorous.
Habit: Clump
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 100cm x 100cm
Xeronema Callistemon
Expected Stock Height: 10/15 cm ?
New stock expected Middle of June, 2026. Waitlist now. Estimated price TBA. Payment on order.
HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: