Spring Planting Guide: Best Native Shrubs to Plant in November

November's arrived, the garden's waking up, and you're itching to get planting. Here's the thing though - whilst spring feels like the perfect time to pop new plants in the ground, it's actually a bit trickier than autumn planting. But don't worry, with the right plant choices and a bit of know-how, you can absolutely succeed with spring planting. Let's dive into which native shrubs love being planted right now and how to give them the best start.

Spring planting has one major challenge: your new plants will face their first summer within months of going in the ground. They'll need consistent care to establish before the heat arrives. The upside? You get to watch them grow straight away, and there's something rather satisfying about that.

Why These Shrubs Excel with Spring Planting

Not all natives are created equal when it comes to spring planting. The best candidates are vigorous growers that establish quickly, have good heat tolerance, and don't sulk when moved. These shrubs have robust root systems that develop rapidly, giving them a fighting chance before summer arrives.

The shrubs we're focusing on today are also forgiving of beginner mistakes - a bit too much water, slightly imperfect soil prep, or less-than-ideal positioning won't set them back too dramatically. They're the reliable mates of the native plant world.

Coprosma: The Spring Planting Champion

If there's one genus that absolutely excels with spring planting, it's Coprosma. These brilliant shrubs establish quickly, grow vigorously, and handle a wide range of conditions without fuss.

Coprosma repens (Mirror Plant): This coastal native is nearly indestructible. Plant it now and you'll have visible growth within weeks. The glossy green leaves reflect light beautifully, creating bright spots in your garden. It grows to 2-3 metres but responds brilliantly to pruning if you want to keep it smaller. Perfect for coastal gardens, windy sites, or anywhere you need a tough, reliable shrub. Handles full sun to part shade.

Coprosma 'Pacific Sunrise' and 'Pacific Sunset': These cultivars bring stunning orange and yellow foliage without any special requirements. Plant them now while they're actively growing and they'll establish rapidly. Both grow to about 1-1.5 metres, making them perfect for smaller gardens. The colour intensifies in full sun, and they're remarkably drought-tolerant once established - usually by their first autumn.

Coprosma 'Coppershine': Compact at just 60cm, this variety sports brilliant copper-bronze foliage that glows in spring sunshine. Absolutely brilliant for pots or as border edging. Plant now and it'll be a feature by Christmas. Thrives in sun to part shade and asks for very little in return.

Hebe: Spring's Flowering Favourite

Hebes are spring planting naturals. They grow quickly, many flower in their first season, and they establish root systems rapidly. Plus, they're available everywhere right now whilst they're looking their best.

Hebe 'Wiri Mist': This compact beauty grows to 60cm and produces clouds of white flowers from late spring through summer. Plant now and you might even get flowers this season. It's disease-resistant, frost-hardy, and drought-tolerant once established. Brilliant for borders, pots, or as a low hedge. Full sun to part shade.

Hebe 'Wiri Grace': Slightly larger at 1 metre, this variety has burgundy-tinted foliage and deep pink-purple flowers. It establishes quickly and begins flowering within months of planting. The flower display lasts for ages - you'll get months of colour. Prefers full sun but tolerates light shade.

Hebe 'Red Edge': Compact silver-grey foliage with distinctive red margins makes this a year-round feature plant. Grows to about 50cm and stays tidy without pruning. White flowers in summer are a bonus. Plant now whilst it's actively growing and it'll settle in beautifully before summer heat arrives. Excellent in pots.

Hebe odora: If you want fragrance, this is your shrub. Small white flowers pack a surprising punch of scent in summer. Grows to about 1 metre with a lovely rounded form. Establishes quickly from spring planting and flowers reliably every year. Full sun to part shade, not fussy about soil.

Pittosporum: Structure and Reliability

Pittosporums are excellent spring planting subjects because they grow steadily once established and rarely sulk. They're particularly good if you need structure in your garden quickly.

Pittosporum 'Golf Ball': This naturally rounded shrub is pure magic - it maintains its perfect globe shape without any pruning whatsoever. Plant now at 60cm and it'll fill out beautifully over summer. Dark green glossy foliage looks good year-round. Brilliant for pots, border edges, or as repeated elements in formal plantings. Sun to part shade, very adaptable.

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Tom Thumb': Compact at just 60-80cm, this variety has stunning burgundy-bronze foliage that deepens in colour through autumn and winter. Spring planting works brilliantly - it establishes quickly and grows steadily through summer. Makes an excellent low hedge or repeated accent plant. The dark foliage provides gorgeous contrast against lighter plants. Full sun to part shade.

Pittosporum 'Silver Magic': Variegated silver-grey foliage brings light to shady corners. Grows to about 1.5 metres and tolerates shade better than most variegated plants. Spring planting allows it to establish before winter, when its silver foliage really shines. Lovely planted in groups. Part shade to full shade.

Griselinia: The Rapid Hedge Former

If you need a hedge and you need it relatively quickly, Griselinia is your answer. It's one of the fastest-growing native shrubs and spring planting allows it to maximise its first growing season.

Griselinia littoralis: The classic Kiwi hedge plant. Glossy apple-green leaves that reflect light beautifully, rapid growth (you can get 30-60cm per year), and remarkable toughness. Plant now at 40-60cm spacing for a hedge, or as individual specimens. Handles coastal winds, salt spray, and exposed conditions brilliantly. Grows to 3-5 metres but easily maintained at any height with annual trimming. Full sun to part shade.

Griselinia 'Broadway Mint': Variegated cream and green foliage adds brightness whilst maintaining all the toughness of the species. Slightly slower growing than straight littoralis but still vigorous. Spring planting works beautifully - you'll have noticeable growth by autumn. Grows to 2-3 metres. Brilliant as a backdrop for darker-leaved plants.

Metrosideros: Coastal Tough Guys

Pohutukawa and rata cultivars are brilliant spring planting subjects, especially in coastal areas. They establish well and grow steadily once their roots are down.

Metrosideros 'Scarlet Pimpernel': A compact pohutukawa cultivar growing to just 2-3 metres. Red flowers in summer (usually from the second or third year) are spectacular. Spring planting allows roots to establish before the flowering season. Excellent for coastal gardens or as a feature tree in smaller spaces. Full sun, tolerates wind and salt spray.

Metrosideros 'Red & Gold': Stunning variegated foliage with gold-splashed leaves. Grows to 2-3 metres and tolerates pruning well if you want to keep it smaller. Spring planting works brilliantly - the new growth emerges with fantastic colour. Red flowers are a bonus. Coastal tolerant. Full sun.

Ground Cover Shrubs for Rapid Coverage

Sometimes you need plants that spread quickly to cover ground or suppress weeds. These low-growing shrubs establish rapidly from spring planting.

Coprosma acerosa: Ground-hugging bronze-green needles form a dense mat about 15cm high. Spreads steadily to cover difficult areas. Plant now and it'll have covered surprising ground by autumn. Brilliant for slopes, coastal gardens, or anywhere you need tough ground cover. Full sun to part shade. Extremely drought-tolerant once established.

Muehlenbeckia axillaris (Creeping Wire Vine): Fine-textured ground cover that spreads to form a soft carpet. Grows about 10cm high and spreads indefinitely. Spring planting allows it to establish and spread through summer - you'll have significant coverage by autumn. Perfect for filling large areas, growing between pavers, or cascading over walls. Sun to part shade.

Pimelea prostrata: Low-growing native with small grey-green leaves and tiny white flowers. Forms mats about 10cm high. Spring planting works brilliantly - it establishes quickly and spreads steadily. Excellent for rockeries, edges, or growing between pavers. Needs good drainage. Full sun to part shade.

How to Plant Successfully in November

Spring planting requires a different approach to autumn planting. You can't just bung plants in and hope for the best - they need consistent support whilst establishing.

Soil preparation: This is crucial. Remove weeds thoroughly, especially couch and oxalis. Dig over the soil to loosen it, breaking up any compacted areas. Work in compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil structure and water-holding capacity. Good preparation means roots establish quickly and plants become drought-tolerant faster.

Planting technique: Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot but the same depth. Gently tease out circling roots - plants that have been in pots for a while often have roots circling the bottom. This encourages roots to grow outward into surrounding soil rather than continuing to circle. Plant at the same depth as in the pot - not deeper. Firm soil gently around roots to eliminate air pockets, then water thoroughly.

Immediate mulching: Mulch straight after planting with 7-10cm of organic mulch - bark, wood chip, or pea straw. Pull mulch slightly away from stems to prevent rot. Mulch retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and moderates soil temperature - absolutely crucial for spring plantings facing their first summer.

First summer watering: This is where spring planting gets demanding. Your plants will need consistent watering to establish before drought stress hits. Water deeply twice a week for the first 6-8 weeks, then once a week through summer if there's no rain. Deep watering (really soaking the soil) encourages deep roots, making plants truly drought-tolerant by next summer.

Spacing Considerations

One of the biggest mistakes with spring planting is planting too closely. Plants look small now, but they'll grow rapidly over summer. That cute 40cm Coprosma will be 80cm by autumn.

For hedging: Space Griselinia 40-60cm apart. Coprosma repens 50-70cm apart. Pittosporum 50-60cm apart. This seems wide now but they'll fill in rapidly - usually within 12-18 months.

For specimen planting: Give shrubs room to reach their mature width without crowding. Check plant tags for mature size and plant accordingly. It's tempting to fill space immediately, but overcrowded plants become maintenance headaches and never develop their natural form properly.

Feeding Spring Plantings

Here's where many gardeners go wrong - they over-feed natives, thinking more food means faster growth. It doesn't work that way.

Most natives prefer lean conditions and can actually suffer from too much fertiliser, particularly phosphorus. If your soil is reasonable, planted-out natives need no feeding at all in their first year. If your soil is very poor, a light application of native-specific or low-phosphorus fertiliser 6-8 weeks after planting is sufficient. One light feed. That's it.

Organic matter in the soil (from your initial compost addition) will release nutrients slowly over time. Mulch breaking down also feeds plants gently. This is plenty for natives - they've evolved to thrive in relatively low-nutrient conditions.

What to Expect in the First Year

Weeks 1-4: Not much visible change. Plants are establishing roots rather than putting on top growth. This is normal. Keep watering consistently.

Weeks 4-8: You'll start seeing new growth - fresh leaves, extending stems. This is when you know plants have settled in. Continue regular watering.

Weeks 8-20 (summer): Significant visible growth. Hebes may flower. Coprosmas will have put on substantial new growth. Keep watering during dry spells - plants aren't fully drought-tolerant yet.

Autumn: Growth slows as temperatures cool. Reduce watering frequency. Plants are now establishing deeper roots ready for year two.

Following spring: Plants take off properly. Growth will be much more vigorous than the first year. By this second summer, most will be reasonably drought-tolerant and need minimal watering.

Regional Timing Variations

Auckland and Northland: November is perfect - soil is warm, spring rain usually provides moisture, and plants have maximum time to establish before hot summers. Your challenge will be summer humidity and fungal diseases, so ensure good air circulation between plants.

Wellington: November planting works well. Your cooler, windier conditions actually mean plants establish more slowly but steadily. Ensure plants are sheltered initially - stake if necessary to prevent wind rock whilst roots establish. Your consistent moisture through summer helps establishment enormously.

Canterbury and Otago: November can work but planting late September or early October is often better. Your short, intense summers mean plants benefit from every extra week of establishment time. Ensure excellent drainage - your cold, wet winters can rot plants that sit in waterlogged soil.

Coastal areas: November is brilliant for coastal plantings. Warm soil, usually adequate moisture, and full growing season ahead. Choose salt-tolerant species exclusively - Coprosma repens, Griselinia, Metrosideros. Your salt-laden winds eliminate many pests, which is a bonus.

Creating Impact with November Plantings

Spring planting is perfect for creating instant impact. Plants are actively growing, many are flowering or about to flower, and you see results quickly.

For rapid screening: Plant Griselinia at 50cm spacing. Add a framework of Coprosma repens between them. You'll have effective screening within 18 months - much faster than waiting for trees to grow.

For colour now and later: Combine flowering Hebe varieties - plant 'Wiri Mist' for white, 'Wiri Grace' for pink-purple, and Hebe 'Red Edge' for foliage contrast. This creates multi-season interest whilst establishing quickly.

For textural contrast: Plant glossy-leaved Coprosma repens with fine-needled Coprosma acerosa as ground cover beneath. Add rounded Pittosporum 'Golf Ball' for shape contrast. This combination establishes rapidly and looks sophisticated within months.

Your Spring Planting Success Plan

November planting absolutely works with the right plants and proper care. Choose vigorous, forgiving species - Coprosma, Hebe, Pittosporum, Griselinia - and they'll establish beautifully despite facing summer in their first year.

Prepare soil properly, mulch generously, and commit to consistent watering through that crucial first summer. By next autumn, your spring plantings will be established and largely self-sufficient. By the following spring, they'll be growing vigorously and you'll be glad you didn't wait for autumn.

Get out there this November and plant with confidence. With the right shrubs and proper care, spring planting creates beautiful, thriving gardens. Your future self will thank you when you're enjoying an established garden next summer rather than still waiting for autumn to plant.