Wind-Resistant New Zealand Native Plants for Exposed Sites

Understanding Windy Sites in New Zealand

Wind is a major factor in New Zealand’s gardening, especially in coastal areas, hilltops, and exposed urban sections. Constant gusts can:

• Dry out soil quickly

• Stress or damage plant foliage

• Erode soil on slopes

Choosing wind-tolerant native plants is key to creating a thriving garden that requires less maintenance and is ecologically sustainable.

Trees and Large Shrubs for Windy Gardens

Wind-resistant trees and large shrubs form a structural backbone:

• Plagianthus regius – Fast-growing native tree, great for wind protection and sheltering smaller plants.
  
  

• Pseudopanax arboreum – Evergreen with flexible branches, resists strong gusts.
  
  

• Sophora microphylla – Deep-rooted, tolerates exposed sites and poor soil.
  
  
  

Tip: Plant trees in clusters to create natural windbreaks, reducing stress on more sensitive shrubs and groundcovers.

Medium Shrubs for Shelter and Soil Protection

Medium shrubs provide a secondary wind barrier:

• Corokia Frosted Chocolate – Dense foliage and wiry stems reduce wind impact.
  
  

• Dodonaea viscosa Purple – Deep roots, ideal for stabilizing soil in windy gardens.
  
  

• Olearia traversii – Compact, hardy shrub suited for exposed terraces.
  
  

• Coprosma propinqua – Naturally wind-tolerant, forms bushy clumps.
  
  

These shrubs protect lower layers, form microclimates, and help prevent erosion.

Grasses, Groundcovers, and Flaxes

Lower layers buffer wind at soil level:

• Phormium cookianum Purple – Architectural leaves, withstands salt and wind.
  
  

• Poa astonii – Tussock grass ideal for slopes, bends in the wind without breaking.
  
  

• Leptinella dioica – Spreading groundcover that stabilizes soil.
  
  

Tip: Use dense planting of groundcovers and tussocks to reduce erosion and retain moisture.

Practical Tips for Windy Gardens

1. Layered planting: Trees → shrubs → groundcovers.

2. Clumping plants: Groups resist wind better than single specimens.

3. Mulch and organic matter: Protect roots and retain moisture.

4. Coastal adaptations: Choose salt-tolerant species like Hoheria populnea and Phormium cookianum.

Conclusion

By choosing wind-resistant NZ native plants and using layered planting techniques, gardeners can create resilient, low-maintenance gardens that thrive in exposed sites and coastal conditions.