Our top 3 New Zealand native trees for attracting birds to the garden

It’s difficult to choose only three, but our favourite native trees to support and feed our feathery friends are…

Carpodetus serratus commonly known as Marble Leaf or Putaputaweta. A relatively slow growing, smallish divaricating tree with marbled leaves. It’s attractive, not only to our native birds such as the Bellbird, Tomtit, Tui, Rifleman, Fantail and Kereru, but also supports lizards, puriri moths, lizards and other insects.
With sweet scented white flowers from spring through to summer, followed by purple fruit, Putaputaweta tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, contributes to the biodiversity of our native ecosystems and plays a role in forest regeneration.

Sophora ‘Dragons Gold’ a beautiful variety of our beloved Kōwhai smothered in golden flowers through the darker days of winter. Plant in full sun to part shade in your garden and be delighted by close up views of Tui and Kereru coming to feed. Grows up to 2 metres high.

Vitex lucens commonly known as Pūriri. If you want to enjoy kereru, tui and bellbirds in your garden it is well worth planting our stunning native Pūriri tree. Pinkish/red flowers are often produced year round but more heavily from May to October attracting tui and bellbird, followed by the bright red fruit kereru love. They are known to gorge themselves on the fruit which ferment in their crop, causing their drunken capers. Tolerant of a range of conditions once established but frost tender when young.