Cabbage tree (Cordyline australis). Barbara Mitcalfe.

Because the true value of our wetlands has not been fully understood in the past 200 years, more than 90% have been drained to make way for agricultural and urban development. We have one of the highest rates of wetland loss in the world. We need to protect what is left and take action to restore our remaining wetlands.

You may not have a stream or pond in your garden, but there may be a small natural seepage, a damp sandy hollow, or a shady area that is moist all year round. Our recommended plants will thrive in these areas too.

Perhaps you have a large property with a wetland, or even a river. These sites can be appropriately and attractively planted with native species to prevent or control flood damage, or to filter out pollutants in surface water run-off. Native sedges and rushes are particularly useful for this, and they look great.

Plants we recommend:

"Heritage" trees
Kahikatea, miro.

Trees
Big (b) = >15m Medium (m) = 10-15m Small (s) = <10m
Cabbage tree (m), fivefinger (m), inanga (s), kaikomako (s), kohuhu (m), lowland ribbonwood (b), manuka (m), narrow-leaved lacebark (s), nikau palm (m), pukatea (b), seven-finger (s), Sophora microphylla (s), swamp maire (b), tree fuchsia (m), wineberry (s)

Shrubs
Karamu, bush snowberry, twiggy tree daisy, marsh ribbonwood, rangiora, small-leaved mahoe, swamp coprosma.

Ferns - including tree ferns (tf)
Black tree fern, gully fern, soft tree fern, kiokio, Prince of Wales feather, single crepe fern, swamp kiokio, wheki ponga (tf), tangle fern.

Grasses (g), sedges (s), rushes (r) and other plants (o)
Astelia fragrans (o), Machaerina sinclairii (s), Carex secta (s), Carex virgata (s), bog rush (s), cutty grass (s), giant umbrella sedge (s), Juncus pallidus (r), Glen Murray tussock (s), three-square sedge (s), jointed wire rush (r), knobby clubrush (s), lake clubrush (s), raupo (o), red tussock (g), sea rush (r), summer-flowering toetoe (g), swamp flax (o), Anaphalioides trinervis (o).