In all circumstances, discuss tree and plant selection with us prior to submitting your landscape designs as approval is at the discretion of the Council. In some situations, the plants listed below may be considered appropriate to plant.

Trees

In all circumstances when planting on Council land you must discuss tree and plant selection with us prior to submitting your landscape designs as approval is at the discretion of the Council.

The list below provides some tree species and their attributes. Download a full and comprehensive list. [XLSX, 141 KB] The download list is updated on a regular basis and it is recommended that the most up-to-date list is used for any planting project.

If you believe any information provided is not correct, please contact us at ccctree@ccc.govt.nz

Small trees

Botanic name Common name Type Suitability Eco-source
Acer platanioides 'Globosum' Norway Maple Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  
Callistemon citrinus Crimson Bottlebrush Exotic Border planting, street tree  
Carmichaelia torulosa Canterbury Pink Broom Native Border planting  
Cercis canadensis Forest Pansy Exotic Specimen tree, border planting  
Coprosma areolata Thin-leaved Coprosma Native Border planting, restoration projects Yes
Coprosma robusta Karamu Native Border planting, restoration projects Yes
Coprosma rotundifolia Coprosma Native Border planting, restoration projects Yes
Coprosma tenuicaulis Swamp Coprosma Native Border planting but not for local restoration projects  
Cordyline banksii Tī Ngahere / Forest Cabbage Tree Native Specimen tree, border specimen  
Ginkgo biloba 'Jade Butterflies Maidenhair Tree Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  
Laburnum alpinum Scotch Laburnum Exotic Specimen tree or borders  
Leptospermum scoparium Mānuka Native Wetland /forest restoration, attracts bees Yes
Lophomyrtus obcordata Rohutui Native Forest/bush planting, riparian areas Yes
Malus ioensis 'Plena' Betchel Crabapple Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  
Malus 'Van Eseltine' Crabapple Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  

Medium trees

Botanic name Common name Type Suitability Eco-source
Acer davidii Snakebark Maple Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  
Acer griseum Paperbark Maple Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  
Acer pensylvanicum Moosewood Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  
Acer pentaphyllum Five-lobe Maple Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  
Carmichaelia stevensonii Weeping Broom Native Border planting, specimen tree  
Carpodetus serratus Putaputawētā / Marble Leaf Native Specimen tree, native regeneration projects Yes
Cornus kousa Kousa Dogwood Exotic Border planting  
Cornus mas Cornelian Cherry Exotic Specimen tree  
Hedycarya arborea Porokaiwhiri, Pigeonwood Native Forest planting or sheltered border Yes
Magnolia acuminata 'Lois' Cucumber Magnolia Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  
Magnolia grandiflora 'Kay Parris' Evergreen Magnolia Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  
Malus tschonoskii Chonosuki Crab Apple Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  
Myrsine divaricata Weeping Māpou Native Forest/bush planting, riparian areas  Yes
Parrotia persica Persian Ironwood Exotic Sheltered borders and courtyards  
Pittosporum eugenioides Tarata / Lemonwood Native Border planting, restoration projects, street tree Yes
Pittosporum tenuifolium Kōhūhū Native Forest/bush planting, riparian areas Yes
Myrsine australis Māpou, Red Matipo Native Forest/bush planting, riparian areas Yes
Streblus heterophyllus Tūrepo Native Border planting, restoration projects Yes
Podocarpus acutifolius Needle-leaved Tōtara Native Sheltered lawn specimen  

Large trees

Botanic name Common name Type Suitability Eco-source
Acer rubrum ‘Bowhall’ Bowhall Red Maple Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  
Hoheria angustifolia Narrow-leaved Houhere Native Specimen or forest planting Yes
Kunzea robusta Kānuka Native Park tree, forest/bush planting, specimen tree Yes
Magnolia grandiflora 'Blanchard' Evergreen Magnolia Exotic Specimen tree  
Malus trilobata Crab Apple Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  
Melicytus ramiflorus Mahoe / Whiteywood Native Forest/bush planting, riparian areas Yes
Nestegis lanceolata White Maire Native Specimen tree, border planting  
Metrosideros umbellata Southern Rātā Native Native specimen tree  
Plagianthus regius Mānatu / Ribbonwood Native Forest/bush and riparian Yes
Sophora tetraptera Large-leaved Kōwhai Native Street tree, specimen tree  


Very large trees

Botanic name Common name Type Suitability Eco-source
Dacrydium cupressinum Rimu / Red Pine Native Specimen tree, not for restoration projects  
Fuscospora fusca Tawhairaunui / Red Beech Native Specimen or forest planting  
Fuscospora solandri Tawhai Rauriki / Black Beech Native Specimen or forest planting  
Sophora microphylla Kōwhai Native Specimen or forest planting Yes
Knightia excelsa Rewarewa Native Borders, forest plantings, attract nectar feeding birds, street tree  
Podocarpus totara Tōtara Native Forest, sheltered lawn specimen Yes
Prumnopitys taxifolia Mataī / Black Pine Native Forest/bush and riparian Yes
Dacrycarpus dacrydioides Kahikatea / White Pine Native Specimen tree, restoration projects, river margins swamps Yes
Tilia platyphyllos Broad-leaved Lime Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  
Ulmus glabra Wych Elm Exotic Specimen tree  
Quercus rubra Red Oak Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  
Platanus acerifolia London Plane Exotic Specimen tree, street tree  
Liriodendron tulipifera Tulip Tree Exotic Specimen tree  

Size and soil guide

Studies have shown the importance of providing trees with the necessary soil volume to allow them to grow through to maturity and reach their full potential for size and canopy cover. 

Trees without an adequate volume of soil will generally under-perform (e.g. stunted growth or reduced lifespan) or force roots past their confines resulting in damage to adjacent infrastructure such as footpaths and kerbs.

The table below provides a guide for the required soil area in relation to the projected canopy (based on tree species maturity). 

The projected canopy has been determined through an average relationship between tree height and canopy spread for broad spreading and pyramidal trees. 

Tree species with a weeping or columnar form may need to be adjusted to better determine a more appropriate canopy spread.

Soil volume requirements are based on ‘Up by Roots-Healthy Soils and Trees in the Built Environment’ by James Urban.

Size classes Height (m) Projected canopy size (m²) Soil area (m²) and volume requirements (m³) Minimum berm/planting area width
Small 0 to 6 10.0 3.8 1.5m
Medium 6 to 12 66.9 25.5 2m
Large 12 to 20 185.9 70.8 2.5m
Very large 20+ 250.4 95.4 3m


Engineering for trees

There are a number of designs and products available to aid in supplying trees with greater soil volumes.  A few of these include:

  • Soil cells: These are a plastic engineered product that can be installed below ground around where the tree is to be planted. The engineered product protects the soil from being compacted while providing the support required to construct footpaths and car parks on the surface.
  • Root bridging: This is a process where a path or driveway is constructed in a way that leaves sections of the ground underneath uncompacted. Through doing this a space is left for tree roots to grow and pass through without causing damage to the above surface material.
  • Structural soil: This is an engineered product that is made up of a mixture of stone aggregates and soil. Due to the stone aggregated, even as the soil is compacted down it is able to maintain voids that allow tree roots to penetrate the area and draw nutrients and water.

It is recommended that when designing around existing or proposed new trees a specialist is engaged.  The council has a list of technician arborists(external link) with the necessary experience and qualifications to provide this advice.

Shrubs
Botanic name
(common name)		 Reason Street planting Park planting Waterway/ Riverbank planting
Arthropodium cirrhatum
(reinga lily)		 Frost Damage No Yes Yes
Buddleja davidii
(buddleia)		 Weed species No No No
Callistemon spp
(bottlebrush)		 Maintenance requirements No Yes No
Camellia spp
(camellia)		 Maintenance requirements No Yes No
Chaenomeles japonica
(Japanese quince)		 Suckers No No No
Cotoneaster spp
(cotoneaster)		 Weed species No No No
Erica arboria
(erica)		 Weed species No No No
Euonymus europaeus
(spindle tree)		 Weed species No No No
Fatsia japonica
(japanese aralia)		 Weed species, attracts wasps, maintenance requirements No Yes No
Hoheria sexstylosa
(lacebark)		 Unsightly galls No Yes Yes
Hoheria populnea
(lacebark)		 Weed species No No No
Juniperus communis ‘Depressa’ Weed species No No No
Nerium oleander
(oleander)		 Poisonous, collects rubbish, maintenance requirements No No No
Phormium tenax
(harakeke)		 Too large for street gardens, collect rubbish, maintenance requirements No Yes Yes
Prunus laurocerasus
(Cherry laurel)		 Weed species No No No
Pyracantha
(pyracantha)		 Fireblight No Yes No
Rhamnus alaternus
(Italian buckthorn)		 Weed species No No No
Sambucus nigra
(elderberry)		 Weed species No No No
Stransvaesia photinia davidiana Fireblight No No No
Syringa vulgaris
(Common lilac)		 Suckers No No No
Vibernum davidii
(David vibernum)		 Disease No No No
Vibernum tinus
(Lauristinus vibernum)		 Disease No No No

Ground cover
Botanic name
(common name)		 Reason Street planting Park planting Waterway/ Riverbank planting
Anemanthele lessoniana
(wind grass)		 Weed species, tripping hazard No Yes Yes
Argyranthemum frutescens
(Paris daisy)		 Weed species No No No
Carex jalagellifera
(carex)		 Weed species, tripping hazard No Yes Yes
Hedera helix
(ivy)		 Weed species No No No
Lobularia maritima
(sweet allysum)		 Weed species No No No
Poa cita Tripping hazard No Yes Yes

Please note

The above list is under continuous development.  Any planting on Council land or land that will be vested to Council must be approved by a Council arborist or landscape architect.

All planting must comply with the relevant IDS and CSS standards.

In addition to the above, do not plant any tree or plant listed in the National Pest Plant Accord, Canterbury Regional Pest Management Plan 2018–2038 plus subsequent amendments. There may be other trees and plants (such as dwarf flax), which are not acceptable to Council and that are not listed above.

Some woody shrub species, such as Pittosporum spp, Dodonaea viscosa, Leptospermum scoparium, Kunzea robusta, Myoporum laetum, Hoheria spp or trees such as Cordyline australis are not acceptable as specimen trees but may be used as garden shrubs. There may be some Prunus species acceptable to Council, such as those species less susceptible to silver leaf disease.