Astelia is a Southern Hemisphere genus, comprising 25 members. They are commonly termed the "perching lilies", but this name is slightly misleading as not all of them are epiphytic. They often form a conspicuous component of the upper layer of our forests; those epiphytic "communities in the sky" that bedeck the branches of our forest trees. The name is derived from Greek (meaning 'lacking a stem') and refers to the tufted, basal growth form of the plants. In recent times, they have deservedly become popular in New Zealand gardens, due to their strength of form, tough constitution, and a trend towards ensiform (sword-shaped) leaves. Most attention has focussed on the Chatham Island species, Astelia chathamica, but there are several superior species from closer to home (like the locally-occurring A. banksii and A. grandis) that we should be planting in our gardens.

Some Astelia spp., like many other epiphytic plants (the most notable example being bromeliads), provide for dry periods by storing water in their thick, curved leaf bases - a useful mechanism if your home happens to be 10m off the ground. They produce flowers in panicles (an inflorescence form, like that of the cabbage tree), and produce large quantities of berries in autumn. The Māori used to eat these berries and used the flowers too, producing a face paint from them. Māori used to call the astelias "kakaha".

Astelia banksii
Wharawhara

The wharawhara is a common sight around the coastline of Auckland, adorning cliffs and trees with its strappy, silvery leaves. It is very easy of cultivation, if given a well-drained soil, and has become a popular plant in Auckland's gardens. It grows slowly and can reach 2m tall, but an eventual height of 1.2-1.5m high is more common in cultivation.

Although it grows more slowly than A. chathamica, it is (in my opinion) a superior species for the garden, as it does not reach the massive dimensions of A. chathamica and maintains a tidier form (in addition to the fact that it is a locally-occurring species). It often grows in association with pohutukawa, as this is the dominant species in much of the local coastal vegetation.

It was said to be the home of the fairies (by the ancient Māori), a mythological belief that is not entirely fanciful, as the astelias (particularly the epiphytic species) are epicentres for forest life. They are used by forest birds as bird nests, support invertebrate animal populations, support other plant life, and provide food for the birds. Māori also used the young, silvery leaves as adornments. It bears the specific name of New Zealand's most famous botanical pioneer, Joseph Banks, who was naturalist (with Daniel Solander) to Captain Cook's first voyage to New Zealand.

Astelia trinervia
Kauri Grass

Astelia trinervia is a common and conspicuous constituent of kauri forest, as implied by its common name. It forms dense tussocks up to 3m tall in forests, but is smaller in cultivation. A. trinervia has attractive inflorescences and red berries. It is a species which is hardly ever found in cultivation, by virtue of the fact that it is slow-growing (a good attribute in gardens, once the plant has reached a plantable size). It is essentially a northern species, being confined to the northern end of the North Island and west Nelson in the South Island. Kauri grass is almost always terrestrial, only occasionally occurring as a low epiphyte.

Notes on the cultivation and nature of other worthwhile species of Astelia will be added to the website over the following months.