Broadly spreading, deciduous. Exfoliating bark similar to the London Plane. Small flowers with red stamens on the bare branches in winter. Leaves sometimes edged with purple that turn yellow, orange or red in autumn. Tolerates dry sites.

Broadly spreading, evergreen. Broad arching green blades, with erect stalked flower heads in spring. The flowers attract birds. The seed pods are long, open twisted & pendulous. Grows on coastal cliffs and hills. Adaptable to many sites.

Native, stiffly erect evergreen. Taller than usual flax, useful for sheltering stock. Seed pods stand erect. Favours wet sites but adaptable. Used for shelter in exposed moist coastal sites.

Narrowly conical, broadening with age, evergreen. Suited to drier, hotter parts of NZ. Tolerant of exposure, ideal shape for shelterbelts. Can survive fire, re-sprouting from the thick bark. Resinous heartwood.