Plant Doctor Archive

Ribbonwood trees

Ribbonwood trees are all over our property. They must seed but I have never seen them flower — how do they spread?

Ribbonwood is one of the few deciduous native New Zealand trees. They make very attractive specimen trees, especially in spring as they burst into leaf and they are extremely hardy. The flowers of Ribbonwood are inconspicuous. Flowers appear in spring and early summer, giving the tree a lime-green glow. As they appear with the new spring growth and are a similar colour to the new growth, it is quite likely you have missed them. The flowers are followed by downy seed capsules. The seeds are spread by birds and by wind.

Advice by Dr Dan Blanchon from Unitec's Diploma in Sustainable Horticulture and Bachelor of Resource Management.

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