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 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
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
Current Stock Height: 50/70 cm ?
Container: 2.5l ?
$16.99
Pure white butterfly shaped flowers smother the stems, a delight in both vase and garden from late spring through to winter. Gaura So White has both a clean, disease free foliage and a compact habit. Attracts butterflies. A very easy-care, rewarding perennial which grows easily in sunny situations.
Habit: Perennial Short
Leaves: Semi-Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 75cm x 60cm
Gaura So White
Current Stock Height: 10/15 cm ?
Container: 1.5l ?
$22.99
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
Winter Rose single. Marbled foliage all year round and in Late Winter, stems hold the white flowers above the foliage. It is free flowering producing a large collection of flowers on a single plant. Excellent for planting in the border or great for winter containers on the patio. Thrives in full sun or partial shade in any good, well drained soil. Perennial
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 40cm x 45cm
Helleborus Mollys White
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 1l ?
$22.99
Helleborus Mollys White
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 2.5l ?
$32.99
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
Winter Rose single. Penny's Pink produces masses of beautiful bright pink cup shaped flowers with yellow stamens from winter and into early spring. The foliage is dark green and marbled and the plant forms a tidy 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 Pennys Pink
Current Stock Height: 10/15 cm ?
Container: 1l ?
$22.99
Helleborus Pennys Pink
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 2.5l ?
$32.99
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
This hellebore range from South Africa is really special. Compact low foliage with gorgeous blushed pink flowers held well aloft and outward facing. Look stunning in the garden, container, planted en-masse or as a table top adornment. Perennial.
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Deciduous, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 30cm x 30cm
Helleborus Sophies Delight
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 1l ?
$22.99
Helleborus Sophies Delight
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: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 2.5l ?
$32.99
Stock of this item is very low.
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
Winter Rose. Elegant semi-double white blooms with delicate ruffled centres. Thrives in shady nooks. The perfect solution for a dramatic and graceful facelift - bring style and panache to your garden. Unique semi-double, white, speckled pink flowers are borne high above lush green foliage. Plant in semi-shade in humus rich, well drained soil. PVR.
Habit: Perennial Medium
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 50cm x 60cm
Helleborus White Tutu
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 1l ?
$22.99
Helleborus White Tutu
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 2.5l ?
$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.
.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
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 2.5l ?
$16.99
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 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: