In all circumstances, discuss tree and plant selection with us prior to submitting your landscape designs as approval is at the discretion of the Council. In some situations, the plants listed below may be considered appropriate to plant.

In all circumstances when planting on Council land, or land that will be vested to Council, you must discuss tree and plant selection with us prior to submitting your landscape designs, as approval is at the discretion of the Council.

Download a full and comprehensive list [XLSX, 141 KB] of tree species and their attributes.

 The download list is updated on a regular basis, and it is recommended that the most up-to-date list be used for any planting project.

Council tree berms update – November 2024 [PDF, 909 KB]

If you believe any information provided is not correct, please contact us at ccctree@ccc.govt.nz.

Size and soil guide

Studies have shown the importance of providing trees with the necessary soil volume to allow them to grow through to maturity and reach their full potential for size and canopy cover. 

Trees without an adequate volume of soil will generally underperform, for example, stunted growth or reduced lifespan,  or force roots past their confines, resulting in damage to adjacent infrastructure such as footpaths and kerbs.

The table below provides a guide for the required soil area in relation to the projected canopy (based on tree species maturity). 

The projected canopy has been determined through an average relationship between tree height and canopy spread for broad spreading and pyramidal trees. 

Tree species with a weeping or columnar form may need to be adjusted to better determine a more appropriate canopy spread.

Soil volume requirements are based on ‘Up by Roots-Healthy Soils and Trees in the Built Environment’ by James Urban.

Size classes Height (m) Projected canopy size (m²) Soil area (m²) and volume requirements (m³) Minimum berm/planting area width
Small 0 to 6 10.0 3.8 1.5m
Medium 6 to 12 66.9 25.5 2m
Large 12 to 20 185.9 70.8 2.5m
Very large 20+ 250.4 95.4 3m


Engineering for trees

There are a number of designs and products available to aid in supplying trees with greater soil volumes.  A few of these include:

  • Soil cells: These are a plastic engineered product that can be installed below ground around where the tree is to be planted. The engineered product protects the soil from being compacted while providing the support required to construct footpaths and car parks on the surface.
  • Root bridging: This is a process where a path or driveway is constructed in a way that leaves sections of the ground underneath uncompacted. Through doing this a space is left for tree roots to grow and pass through without causing damage to the above surface material.
  • Structural soil: This is an engineered product that is made up of a mixture of stone aggregates and soil. Due to the stone aggregated, even as the soil is compacted down it is able to maintain voids that allow tree roots to penetrate the area and draw nutrients and water.

It is recommended that when designing around existing or proposed new trees a specialist is engaged.  The council has a list of technician arborists(external link) with the necessary experience and qualifications to provide this advice.

Botanic name
(common name)		 Reason Street planting Park planting Waterway/ Riverbank planting
Arthropodium cirrhatum
(reinga lily)		 Frost Damage No Yes Yes
Buddleja davidii
(buddleia)		 Weed species No No No
Callistemon spp
(bottlebrush)		 Maintenance requirements No Yes No
Camellia spp
(camellia)		 Maintenance requirements No Yes No
Chaenomeles japonica
(Japanese quince)		 Suckers No No No
Cotoneaster spp
(cotoneaster)		 Weed species No No No
Erica arboria
(erica)		 Weed species No No No
Euonymus europaeus
(spindle tree)		 Weed species No No No
Fatsia japonica
(japanese aralia)		 Weed species, attracts wasps, maintenance requirements No Yes No
Hoheria sexstylosa
(lacebark)		 Unsightly galls No Yes Yes
Hoheria populnea
(lacebark)		 Weed species No No No
Juniperus communis ‘Depressa’ Weed species No No No
Nerium oleander
(oleander)		 Poisonous, collects rubbish, maintenance requirements No No No
Phormium tenax
(harakeke)		 Too large for street gardens, collect rubbish, maintenance requirements No Yes Yes
Prunus laurocerasus
(Cherry laurel)		 Weed species No No No
Pyracantha
(pyracantha)		 Fireblight No Yes No
Rhamnus alaternus
(Italian buckthorn)		 Weed species No No No
Sambucus nigra
(elderberry)		 Weed species No No No
Stransvaesia photinia davidiana Fireblight No No No
Syringa vulgaris
(Common lilac)		 Suckers No No No
Vibernum davidii
(David vibernum)		 Disease No No No
Vibernum tinus
(Lauristinus vibernum)		 Disease No No No

Botanic name
(common name)		 Reason Street planting Park planting Waterway/ Riverbank planting
Anemanthele lessoniana
(wind grass)		 Weed species, tripping hazard No Yes Yes
Argyranthemum frutescens
(Paris daisy)		 Weed species No No No
Carex jalagellifera
(carex)		 Weed species, tripping hazard No Yes Yes
Hedera helix
(ivy)		 Weed species No No No
Lobularia maritima
(sweet allysum)		 Weed species No No No
Poa cita Tripping hazard No Yes Yes

Please note

The above list is under continuous development.  Any planting on Council land or land that will be vested to Council must be approved by a Council arborist or landscape architect.

All planting must comply with the relevant IDS and CSS standards.

In addition to the above, do not plant any tree or plant listed in the National Pest Plant Accord, Canterbury Regional Pest Management Plan 2018–2038 plus subsequent amendments. There may be other trees and plants (such as dwarf flax), which are not acceptable to Council and that are not listed above.

Some woody shrub species, such as Pittosporum spp, Dodonaea viscosa, Leptospermum scoparium, Kunzea robusta, Myoporum laetum, Hoheria spp or trees such as Cordyline australis are not acceptable as specimen trees but may be used as garden shrubs. There may be some Prunus species acceptable to Council, such as those species less susceptible to silver leaf disease.