Here are the cuttings (and prices) which we can provide on a seasonal basis. Please sign up for our free e-news to be advised of dates available (see link at the bottom of this page).
PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE UNROOTED CUTTINGS! They are cut and sent on the day, will travel quite safely but for optimum results be prepared to handle them as soon as they arrive.
PROCESS:
- Watch out for a notification in our e-news. These cuttings are seasonal and NOT available at other times of the year.
- Cuttings are $12 for one. Add $5 for each additional cutting (any species). Then add $15.00 for P&P plus an extra $6.00 if it’s going to a rural delivery address.
- Order items by paying into our bank account, Moths And Butterflies Of NZ Trust 38-9009-0654693-00. Then please email with your name, address (for mail), phone number (mobile preferred) and quantities and selection.
- Orders close on Friday, 4 September and cuttings will be sent out on Monday, 7 September (OR the date advised in the e-news). You will be sent details by email - it's your responsibility to track the items.
- Please be prepared to open and put them into the medium immediately upon receipt. Here is a useful Youtube video to watch, from 4.18 minutes on. (The video is about Australian native plants but other plants/methods are discussed.)
- Cuttings could include the following plants, unless otherwise noted. Please also ensure that none of these plants are considered pest plants in your region as we will be unable to offer them to you.
Buddleja salviifolia
B. salviifolia is a large, semi-evergreen shrub, multi-stemmed, with untidy, drooping branches, typically reaching a height of 4–8 m.
The leaves look like sage, hence the name. This shrub flowers at the end of the winter/early Spring and provides wonderful food for any butterflies and other pollinators visiting your garden. The flowers hang in panicles (typical of Buddleias) and are mauve to purple. The most striking feature of the flowers is their scent, judged by some to the best of all the Buddleias - some people say it's like Chanel perfume.
When the season ends you can cut the plant back down to a stump and it will grow right back up again over the next twelve months.
Dahlia tenuicaulis – Single tree dahlia
D. tenuicaulis grows to about 2 metres tall with dramatic bamboo-like canes topped with these pink/purple blooms. It seems to bloom all year round. Originally from southern Mexico it is rarely seen for sale. Very bushy but easy to prune back. Flowers are 80-100 mm wide.
Montanoa grandiflora - white Mexican tree daisy
The Mexican Tree Daisy grows prolifically (2 metres plus) all year and bursts into flower when our pollinators need it. The prolific display of large white daisies smell deliciously of fresh-baked cupcakes, and they smother the plant so you can hardly see the green leaves. The chartreuse seed heads soon follow. Then it's time to cut it right back, almost to the ground, so it can grow again. The leaves and stems can be mulched, but the sap within might gum up your machine, so best to leave the stems and leaves to dry out a bit first. A fantastic plant for pollinators and midwinter displays.
Tagetes lemmonii – Mexican marigold bush
This is a bushy evergreen shrub which will grow 1-2 metres tall/wide, although you can keep it more compact with pruning. Foliage has a strong fragrance of marigold/lemon/mint. Orange yellow flowers can bloom all year. Plant in full sun or part shade, well-drained soil. Drought tolerant in coastal gardens. Frost tender to a hard frost but rebounds quickly. Overall, hardy. Comes from southern Arizona and northern Mexico. Named after plant collectors John and Sara Lemmon, hence the name.
Telanthophora grandifolia – giant groundsel
Got a big space? This plant can grow up to 3-4 metres tall. It has fragrant yellow flower clusters, looking a bit like a Senecio species. Flower clusters are bigger than dinner plates and so are the paddle-shaped, scalloped, deep green leaves – about 300-400 metres long! Comes from the cloud forests of Mexico. Seems to flower twice a year here in Auckland. Plant in soil rich in humus, fast-draining. Frost tender.
Tithonia diversifolia - Mexican tree sunflower
This plant is a fast-growing perennial noteworthy because of the huge yellow flowers that appear in winter, just when our pollinators want them! It's also valued in permaculture as the leaves (when flowers are spent) can be used to produce biomass - and also it is valued as a companion plant against aggressive grasses such as kikuyu. The flowers are rich in nectar but because it can grow to 2-3 metres, you should have an appropriate space in your garden.
