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
An attractiv, spreading, ground cover with interesting foliage that is a dark burgundy shade. It will suppressing weeds and survive extremes of sun and shade. Bright blue flowers appear in spring through to summer and contrast well with the leaves. Plant in sun or semi-shade. Perennial.
Habit: Groundcover
Leaves: Evergreen, Variegated
Mature Size (HxW): Spreading
Ajuga Burgundy Lace
Current Stock Height: 0/5 cm ?
Container: 1.3l ?
$16.99
aka Sedge
Attractive NZ native grass that forms a clump of tussock-like foliage. The leaves are a dark bronze purple. Upright and graceful, looks fabulous planted in large drifts. Hardy to just about any conditions but happiest in a sunny position that does not dry out completely in summer. Evergreen.
Leaves: Evergreen, Brown
Mature Size (HxW): 80cm x 50cm
Carex Buchananii
Current Stock Height: 30/40 cm ?
Container: 0.5l ?
$9.99
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: 20/30 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
Stock of this item is very low.
Carex Testacea
Current Stock Height: 60/70 cm ?
Container: 2.5l ?
$26.99
Carex Testacea
Current Stock Height: 20/30 cm ?
Container: 0.5l ?
$9.99
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: 10/20 cm ?
Container: 10.5cm ?
$9.99
aka Mat Rusher
This Aussie perennial is ideal for group planting in sun or part shade. Fine needles of lime-green foliage form an attractive clump and look good all year round. Little stems of yellow fragrant flowers in summer. Tolerates poor soil but likes good drainage. Easy to grow. Evergreen.
PVR:
Habit: Clump
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 60cm x 50cm
Lomandra Lime Tuff
Current Stock Height: 20/30 cm ?
Container: 1l ?
$19.99
Lomandra Lime Tuff
Current Stock Height: 25/35 cm ?
Container: 2l ?
$22.99
Lomandra Lime Tuff
Expected Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
New stock expected Beginning of August, 2026. Waitlist now. Estimated price TBA. Payment on order.
aka Mondo Grass
Black Mondo Grass. This unique perennial has distinctive stiff purple-black foliage which clumps together to form little mounds that can be used as a ground cover or edging. Small lilac flowers appear in summer followed by shiny black berries. Evergreen.
Habit: Clump
Leaves: Evergreen, Brown
Mature Size (HxW): 25cm x spreadscm
Ophiopogon Black Dragon
Current Stock Height: 10/15 cm ?
Container: Tube ?
$6.99
20 @ $6.00 each
.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
Current Stock Height: 01/05 cm ?
Container: tube ?
$6.99
.jpg "Ophiopogon Nana (Dwf Mondo Grass)")
aka Mondo Grass
A grass-like perennial that forms tactile little clumps of very fine foliage. The soft dense mats look fabulous along pathways or edges. Small flowers hide amongst the foliage and are followed by little berries. Grow in full sun or part shade. Evergreen.
Habit: Clump
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 20 cm x spreadscm
Ophiopogon Nana dwf
Current Stock Height: 01/05 cm ?
Container: tube ?
$6.99
20 @ $6.00 each
aka Mondo Grass
Rewarding perennial with green strappy foliage that forms a strong little clump and spreads well. Ideal for mass planting or using as an edge along borders and pathways. In summer pale mauve flowers appear and these are followed by attractive berries. Easy to grow. Evergreen.
Habit: Clump
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 25cm x spreadscm
Ophiopogon Planiscarpus
Current Stock Height: 10 cm
Container: 1.5l ?
$14.99
Stock of this item is very low.
Ophiopogon Planiscapus
Current Stock Height: 01/05 cm ?
Container: Tube ?
$6.99
20 @ $6.00 each
HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: