Why Lomandra?
Twenty-five years into landscape design here in Auckland, a brand-new website, and my very first blog.
It feels a bit like opening the garden gate and starting afresh. So why this title?
– why Lomandra and where did “Sandra Lomandra” come from ?
Let me take you back. Years ago, I worked on a large, exposed, windy Auckland site – the kind of spot many New Zealand coastal and urban gardens content with. I knew straight away what it needed Lomandra.
Hardy, resilient and when mass planted, quietly beautiful
I explained my thinking to the clients: “It will move gracefully in the wind, need very little maintenance, and look
good year-round – ideal for Auckland’s climate”.
They were on board until the truck arrived with Two hundred Lomandra plants.
Their eyes nearly popped out of their heads. Two hundred? Really?
But once those grasses were in the ground, swaying in the breeze, they loved them. And I knew I’d made the right call.
Hardy, Resilent – Perfect for Auckland Conditions
Of course, it wasn’t all Lomandra. I also wove in some hardy evergreen perennials for extra colour and structure. I layered in other hardy evergreen plants well-suited to Auckland gardens.
• Euphorbia, for its zingy chartreuse flowers.
• Bergenia, with its bold leaves and pink bloom.
• Loropetalum, bringing deep plum, tones.
• Strelitzia parvifolia, to anchor the planting to add sculptural drama.
Together, they softened the bold sweep of grasses and crested a garden that felt inviting rather than stark – robust enough to handle the local conditions, yet still full of personality.
So it came to be…
While the contractors where busy planting the two hundred lomandra, they had plenty of time to come up with the nickname –
“Sandra Lomandra” – and it rolled off the tongue so naturally that it stuck.
Honestly? I didn’t mind. It’s a plant that reminds me what good gardens are about: simple ideas that really work. Because here’s the truth — gardens don’t need to be fussy. Sometimes the most stunning results come from low-maintenance, hardworking plants that bring movement, colour and year-round interest without the drama.
And that’s where this Blog Begins
With stories, lessons, and maybe a laugh or two from 25 years of creating gardens across Auckland and beyond. I’ll be sharing tips, insights, and a peek behind-the-scenes of my design process — the wins, the challenges, and the things I’ve learned along the way.
Garden Design Tips Auckland
If you’re planning a garden in Auckland or other parts of New Zealand, here are a few simple lessons from this project.
• Match plants to conditions, not trends.
• Mass planting creates calm.
• Contrast is what makes grasses shine.
With over 25 years’ experience in landscape design, Sandra Batley is an Auckland-based designer specialising in refined, enduring residential gardens. Her work focuses on thoughtful planning, quality materials, and creating outdoor spaces
designed to be enjoyed year-round.
If you’d like support shaping a garden which suits your site, lifestyle and Auckland conditions, you can view my garden design and consultation services here. Photo credit: Sandra Batley