Episode: New Zealand Ellerslie International Flower Show

Presenter: Xanthe White

Manukau City is the home of the Ellerslie Flower Show and it is also the largest Polynesian city in the world. SO every year Manukau City council puts on a garden that celebrate the vibrancy and colour of Polynesian culture.

Every garden has a purpose and this garden is all about performance. Every day the stage is set up for artists and musicians, but it doesn?t stop there.

There is also the garden which has lush tropical foliage and hot red colours, a performance in itself. The garden uses a combination of New Zealand natives and exotic plants which are held together with the strong theme of lush green foliage and red flowers.

There is Pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa), the New Zealand Christmas Tree, Nikau Palm (Rhopalostylis sapida) and Cannas. There are also three species of Ligularia; Ligularia reniformis came to New Zealand on a house boat and was passed on from gardener to gardener. Leopard Spot Ligularia (Ligularia aureo maculate) has fantastic splashes of yellow on the leaves and Ligularia ?Britt-Marie Crawford? (Ligularia dentate ?Britt-Marie Crawford?) with its beautiful burgundy foliage.

Puka (Meryta sinclarii) is a wonderful example of what gardeners do for native plants. There were only three of these plants left on an island and if it wasn?t for its popularity for its beautiful lush green leaves s a backdrop in tropical gardens then this species could be extinct.

Hibiscus is a tropical garden favourite and it has been cleverly translated from planting into beautiful Polynesian motifs. The Polynesian theme is really finished off with the incredible Easter Island heads. They are real icons of Polynesian culture which power over the garden.

The amazing performances are on stage greeting visitors as they arrive at the show and they create the atmosphere and the excitement which is what Ellerslie is all about.

www.manukau.govt.nz