Green Wall

I created a green wall to hide two concrete water tanks which sit directly behind the house and can be viewed from inside the house - so they needed to be disguised in some way.  I have aimed to use predominantly native NZ shade and epiphytic plants (with the occasional Australian native fern) to create a lush green wall.  The wall is located on the south side of the house so has shade for much of the day. 

This year the plants seem to have finally covered the majority of the plastic framework of the wall (I used a Maccaferri green wall product) and is looking quite effective.  I have included the plant list below, but the most successful to date have been the NZ native mint (I didn't even know there was one), and the Astelia banksii.

I managed to find a few native orchids from Oratia Native Plants and for the second year in a row have flowered, and seem to be doing well, quite a treat when they flower (see photo below).

Green Wall Plant Species being Trialled (all sourced from Oratia Native Plant Nursery)...

Freycinetia banksii, Astelia solandri, Elatostema rugosum, Metrosideros carminea, Parsonsia capsularis, Adiantum aethiopicum, Fuchsia procumbens, Anarthropteris lanceolata, Asplenium flabelifolium, Asplenium flaaccidum, Asplenium haurakiense, Asplenium polyodon, Huperzia varia, Hymenophyllum sanguiolentum, Microsorum pustulatum, Microsorum scandens, Veronica jovellanoides, Earina autumnalis, Winika cunninghamii.

View of Green Wall

NZ Native Orchid Thriving in Green Wall

Close up of Native Mint Covering Green Wall

Astelia and Mentha in Green Wall

Spring is here

The breezy day has highlighted the vanilla-like scent of the white wisteria which has exploded into flower at the front of the house.  The long lace-like racemes of white wafting in the breeze add a magical softness to the garden - worth the wait, one of the first plants put in at the garden when the house was completed and now just starting to achieve the vision I had over 8 years ago!