Pull in the BIRDS
Offers some tips on how to attract native birds into your garden
THERE IS MUCH JOY in seeing birds in the garden. The level of excitement that can result in seeing our own New Zealand native birds in the garden is an interesting and sad phenomenon. One would have hoped that native birds would be found in greater abundance in our gardens. They are in pockets but with far less abundance than they once were.
We can help bring in native birds by providing a good range of food-providing plants for different months of the year. They don’t have to be large-growing native trees either; there are many exotics that provide nectar-rich flowers our native birds love to feast on.
Three brilliant plant species that tūī, wax/ silvereye and bellbirds in particular love to feast on are grevillea, banksia and callistemon (bottlebrush). These plants come in sizes highly suitable for small town or larger gardens and produce flowers through the winter months.
Three top grevillea flowering now are:
❏ Grevillea Tangerine Dream: Large clusters of deep orange flowers on the tips of the branches. Grows about 1m by 1m.
❏ G. Superb: Large reddish-orange flowers can pop out throughout the year. The plant is a fast grower, reaching 2m high by 2m wide.
❏ G. Lemon Daze: Bright yellow and pink hanging flowers are produced from autumn all through winter and into spring. Grows about 1m high by 1.5m wide.
Banksia are another range of winter flowering plants. They are very coastal hardy, handling wind and dry conditions too. The flowers are quite unusual looking if you have not seen them before. They are like cylinders or candles standing upright and come in a range of colours. They are adored by tūī in particular for their nectar. These five varieties are some that will fit in a range of gardens:
❏ Banksia Menzies Dwarf: Red flowers during autumn and winter; it also has attractive serrated deep green leaves. It grows about 1.5m high by 1.5m wide.
❏ B. Coccinea known as Scarlet Banksia: A small to medium tree, growing 2-3m high by about 2m wide. Bright red flowers are good for floral art. ❏ B. Attenuate Nana (Dwarf Coast Banksia): Showy yellow flowers standing up like candles. Grows 2m high by 2m wide. ❏ B. Birthday Candles: This plant grows as a groundcover of about 50cm high by 50cm wide. It is attractive with its “candlelike” bloom standing upright out of the fine needle-like foliage.
❏ B. Giant Candles: It has exceptionally long flower spikes up to 40cm long. Flowers are deep orange and appear from autumn to winter. A striking plant for any shrub border and coastal garden. Grows about 3m high by 2m wide.
The callistemon, commonly known as bottlebrush because of its flower shape, is also an excellent source of nectar. They are tough plants being wind, drought and coastal hardy. There is a range of different red varieties that grow to different sizes, as well as some truly spectacular iridescent pinks plus white and violet colour options.
Some varieties to seek out for your garden:
❏ Callistemon Little John: This variety is one of the smallest-growing varieties, producing masses of short deep red brushes tipped gold through spring and summer and occasional blooms yearround. Grows about 1m x 1m.
❏ C. Red Clusters: It has a rounded growth habit with pink new shoots. The flowers are a profusion of brilliant, crimson-red brushes. Grows 3m high x 2m wide.
❏ C. John Mashlan: Produces a profusion of candyfloss-pink brush-like flowers, growing about 4m high x 3m wide.
❏ C.Hot Pink: Hot pink flowers are produced on a smaller-growing plant around 1.5m high x 1m wide.