Below is information about some commonly planted native species, divided into trees and shrubs.
Trees
Agathis australis (Kauri)
Natural distribution top half of North Island; plant with nurse cover on most sites or as a single species grove at high density on good sites.
Alectryon excelsus (Titoki)
Planted in small numbers within natural range but scope to use as inter-planted tree or grove.
Beilschmiedia tarairi (Taraire)
Not commonly planted but can be inter-planted within a nurse cover.
Corynocarpus laevigatus (Karaka)
Common in coastal habitats, young seedlings frost tender. Often associated with Maori cultural sites so exact natural distribution uncertain. Occasionally becomes locally dominant. Fresh kernels (seed) toxic so banned from some amenity plantings.
Dacrycarpus dacrydioides (Kahikatea)
Most commonly planted as groves or interplanted within nurse cover of manuka on damper sites or sites with periodic flooding.
Dacrydium cupressinum (Rimu)
Inter-plant as a later successional tree in light wells of established shrubland or sheltered humid sites; does not like open exposed sites.
Dysoxylum spectabile (Kohekohe)
Inter-plant within nurse cover species on sheltered sites; highly palatable to possums and grazing animals.
Fuscospora fusca (Tawhairaunui/Red beech)
Prefers deep, well drained, fertile soils of lower slopes and river terraces; can be planted as single species or in mixture with nurse cover.
Fuscospora solandri (Tawairauriki/Black beech)
Tolerates poor and droughty soils, and low rainfall.
Fuscospora truncata (Hard beech)
Tolerates poorer and drier soils than red beech and slightly slower growing. Most poorly known of the beech species.
Griselinia littoralis (Pāpāuma/Kapuka/Broadleaf)
Tough species on most sites that can be planted along with nurse shrub species.
Knightia excelsa (Rewarewa/Honeysuckle)
Inter-plant with nurse species on exposed sites although it regenerates readily on open sites.
Kunzea robusta (Rawirinui, Kānuka)
Tolerates drier hill country sites more so than manuka; commonly planted as nurse cover but can grow into a small tree .
Laurelia novae-zelandiae (Pukatea)
Most common on deep fertile alluvial soils and can grow in semi-swamp along with kahikatea; common in damp, shaded gullies; North Island to West Coast.
Libocedrus plumosa (Kawaka/New Zealand cedar)
Uncommon lowland forest tree not planted extensively.
Lophozonia menziesii (Silver beech)
Prefers higher rainfall sites; tolerates frost more than other beeches.
Metrosideros excelsa (Pōhutukawa)
Predominant coastal tree within natural range of top half of North Island; slow initial growth from planting benefiting from shelter of nurse species when planted small.
Metrosideros robusta (Northern rātā)
Inter-plant with nurse cover of hardy shrub hardwoods especially on harder sites.
Phyllocladus trichomanoides (Tānekaha)
Tolerates less fertile and exposed sites but better growth within shelter.
Plagianthus regius (Manatu/Lowland ribbonwood)
Sometimes planted along with shrub hardwood nurse forming a small tree.
Podocarpus totara (Tōtara)
Most commonly planted podocarp nationwide very tolerant of drought prone and lower rainfall sites; can be planted as grove on open grass site or inter-planted within nurse cover to improve stem form; intolerant of prolonged damp sites.
Prumnopitys ferruginea (Miro)
Inter-plant within nurse cover of pioneer shrubs.
Prumnopitys taxifolia (Matai)
Slow growing; inter-plant in small numbers within cover of nurse species.
Sophora tetraptera (Kōwhai)
Can be planted on open sites or in mixture with establishing nurse shrub cover.
Vitex lucens (Pūriri)
Fast growing if planted on lowland fertile sheltered sites within natural range.
Shrubs
Aristotelia serrata (Makomako/Wineberry)
Sometimes planted as nurse pioneer species.
Austroderia toetoe (Toetoe)
Sometime used as a filler in restoration programmes to cover ground quickly between planted native shrubs.
Brachyglottis repanda (Rangiora)
Understorey species; plant later under canopy.
Carpodetus serratus (Putaputawētā)
Hardy pioneers for nurse cover on difficult sites.
Coprosma lucida (Shining karamū)
Nurse cover species, not as commonly planted as karamu.
Coprosma repens (Taupata)
Coastal early coloniser shrub species; highly palatable to rabbits.
Coprosma robusta (Karamū)
Common hardy nurse cover for planting most sites; vulnerable to deer and rabbit browsing.
Cordyline australis (Ti kouka/Cabbage tree)
Commonly planted in mixture with pioneer shrub nurse cover.
Dodonaea viscosa (Akeake)
Nurse cover species with limited natural range; avoid using purple foliage varieties.
Hoheria populnea (Houhere/North Island lacebark)
Small tree can be planted with nurse cover usually planted in small numbers; check if appropriate local species.
Hoheria sexstylosa (Houhere/Long-leaved lacebark)
Small tree can be planted with nurse cover usually planted in small numbers; check if appropriate local species.
Leptospermum scoparium (Mānuka)
Very common pioneer shrub species used as a nurse; non-palatable.
Melicytus ramiflorus (Māhoe/Whiteywood)
Planted in smaller numbers along with hardy shrub hardwood nurse species; can be difficult to establish although readily regenerates.
Myoporum laetum (Ngaio)
Coastal small tree readily establishes on coastal dunes often used as pioneer in coastal restoration; foliage poisonous to stock.
Myrsine australis (Māpou)
Slower growing but a hardy part of the mix of pioneer shrubs to plant as a nurse .
Ozothamnus leptophyllus (Tauhinu)
Widespread pioneer on open sites; very hardy and non-palatable; prolific seeding wind borne.
Phormium tenax (Harakeke/flax)
Swamp plant forming extensive stands; plante on wide range sites as very hardy.
Pittosporum colensoi (Rautawhiri)
Hardy plant as nurse species within its natural range.
Pittosporum crassifolium (Karo)
Commonly planted nurse cover shrub planted on coasts; can be a weed if planted outside natural range.
Pittosporum eugenioides (Tarata/Lemonwood)
Commonly planted riparian plant as nurse species.
Pittosporum tenuifolium (Kōhūhū)
Commonly planted hardy nurse species.
Pseudopanax arboreus (Whauwhaupaku/Five finger)
Planted along with nurse species; can struggle on exposed hard sites initially.
Pseudopanax crassifolius (Horoeka/Lancewood)
Hardy plant that can be a small component of restoration programmes; does not suppress weed as tall and spindly.
Pseudopanax lessonii (Houpara)
Hardy coastal pioneers small tree; vulnerable to rabbit browsing.