Plants of the Month November
Scented natives - Olearia fragrantissima and native jasmine are in full flower at the nursery in November. A nationally threatened tree, Olearia fragrantissima lives up to its name with peach/apricot scented yellow flowers - its a must for every Southland Garden.
Native climbers such as jasmine, clematis and lawyer all flower very early and need to get to the canopy to flower. That’s why regenerating areas are so good for native birds as flowers are more prolific at low levels - they dont have to reach up to the treetops to flower. Native wineberry is flowering more vigorously than I have ever seen before at Otatara and Sandy Point - is that a good or a bad sign? Often plants under stress flower massively, or maybe its just a sign of a mild winter or a good summer to come!
The exotic elderberry is also flowering - now is the time to collect the flowers to make elderflower cordial and champagne - its a good excuse to do weed control of this invasive species.
Posted: 10 November 2011