Welcome to the Sentinels group website

We are a collective of New Zealand based hobby growers offering heirloom and locally adapted seed lines for sale.

Explore our catalogue or learn more about the growers or our group.

  • Seeds bred for New Zealand climate by our passionate growers
  • Holistically grown and selected for optimum quality, taste, hardiness and disease resistance
  • Purchase directly from the grower
  • Sentinels seed is frozen stored to maintain high germination
Loquat - 95CMK

Loquat - 95CMK

Details   Loquats are native to the cooler hill regions of south-central China and will grow happily throughout New Zealand
Botanical name   Eriobotrya japonica
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Contains at least   10
Price per packet   $4.50
Only 4 in stock   Order
Pohutuwawa - Dwarf Tahitian - 120CMK

Pohutuwawa - Dwarf Tahitian - 120CMK

Details   Grow in full sun or part shade in well drained soil or in a large pot. Occasionally prune to keep it a nice shape, produces beautiful flowers that last a long time. Attractive in courtyard’s patio’s or near the house, relatively frost hardy
Botanical name   Metrosideros tahitian
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2022
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Only 7 in stock   Order
Pittosporum - Karo - 157CMK

Pittosporum - Karo - 157CMK

Details   Small coastal tree that pretty much grows thru out NZ now, the red flowers like other pittosporum has a lovely scent more noticeable in the evening, great as a hedging tree or stand alone. Karo has a thick leaf similar to pohutukawa with white underside. Grows to 5 m, very frost hardy.
Botanical name   Pittosporum crassifolium
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   Dec 2022
Contains at least   40
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
Nikau palm - 113CMK

Nikau palm - 113CMK

Details   Grows to 9 m, very slow growing, produces bright red fruit which birds love eating, sensitive to frost when young
Botanical name   Rhopalostylis Sapida
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2024
Contains at least   25
Price per packet   $6.50
Watch Only 4 in stock   Order
Pittosporum - Wrinkled Blue - 210CMK

Pittosporum - Wrinkled Blue - 210CMK

Details   Beautiful blue/green foliage, quick growing, good as a hedging, screening or stand alone tree, can clip to desired shape. Height 4 m, tolerates frost.
Botanical name   Pittrosporum tenufolium
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2022
Contains at least   40
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Only 3 in stock   Order
Striped Zucchini - 49CMK

Striped Zucchini - 49CMK

Details   Zucchini Striped is a very productive summer squash, also known as Italian Striped
Botanical name   Cucurbita pepo
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2023
Contains at least   20
Price per packet   $4.50
  Order

Pumpkin - Rouge Vif d'Etampes - 208CMK

Details   This pumpkin is an old French heirloom, moderately sweet, easy to grow. Plant in the spring, maturity is 95 - 105 days. Also known as the Cinderella pumpkin.
Botanical name   C. maxima
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   2021
Contains at least   20
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
Standard Butternut Pumpkin - 69CMK

Standard Butternut Pumpkin - 69CMK

Details   Butternut has tan-yellow skin and orange fleshy pulp with a compartment of seeds in the blossom end. When ripe, it turns increasingly deep orange, and becomes sweeter and richer. It is a good source of dietary fiber, Vitamin C Magnesium Potassium and Vitamin A
Botanical name   Cucurbita moschata
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2024
Contains at least   20
Price per packet   $4.50
  Order
Ribbon Wood - 153CMK

Ribbon Wood - 153CMK

Details   Ribbon woods in there natural environment can grow 5/10 meters depending on soil type and location, outside of its forest environment it's best to prune like what is seen in the photo. If planted out in the open they tend to grow extra limbs but as the tree gets older the limbs can start to split apart letting rainwater in and in the end kill it. Ribbon woods tolerate fairly strong winds and very dry soils. Can be planted quite close together when group planting, If you have them in your area Wood pigeons enjoy their fruit.
Botanical name   Plagianthus regius
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2024
Contains at least   30
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Only 10 in stock   Order
Purple Snake - 234CMK

Purple Snake - 234CMK

Details   Purple snake bean is stringless, can grow to 70-80 cm long but best harvested at around 45cm long unless saving the seeds. can be eaten raw while young or steamed, stir fried or used in stews when more mature. slightly sweet flavour plant after frosts have passed, beans like the warmer weather so if still a bit chilly wont do as well. Needs a support to grow up
Botanical name   Vigna unguiculata
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2023
Storage Info   Seed stock refreshed yearly
Contains at least   30
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
Corokia - Yellow wonder - 190CMK

Corokia - Yellow wonder - 190CMK

Details   Corokia are a tight growing shrub/small tree, making it very suitable as a small or large hedge. Will tolerate strong winds but sensitive to salt spray but still a good coastal tree. Grows to 2 m
Botanical name   Argophyllaceae
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Contains at least   20 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Only 8 in stock   Order
Ake ake - purple - 167CMK

Ake ake - purple - 167CMK

Details   Ake Ake is a bushy shrub/tree, brown/purple in colour, has flowers in panicles, yellow/green red/green, can handle light frost and tolarates coastal conditions. Grows to 7 meters, can be trimmed to size
Botanical name   Dodonaea Viscosa
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2023
Storage Info   Seed frozen stored
Contains at least   30
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
Manuka - 64CMK

Manuka - 64CMK

Details   New Zealand tea tree, naive to New Zealand and South-East Australia. Shrub like tree good for regeneration of bare land, flowers white occasionally pink
Botanical name   Leptospermum scoparium
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Storage Info   Seed frozen stored
Contains at least   approx 100
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
Muehlenbeckia astonii - 252CMK

Muehlenbeckia astonii - 252CMK

Details  
A dense deciduous forming shrub. Likes a moderate to high fertility soil and will tolerate dry sites. Processing this seed is very time consuming which reflexes in the price.
Botanical name   Muehlenbeckia astonii
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Contains at least   20
Price per packet   $6.50
Only 9 in stock   Order
Mini Bell Peppers - 211CMK

Mini Bell Peppers - 211CMK

Details   An old family heirloom from Ohio USA, this variety grows red, yellow and chocolate capsicum plants produce an abundance of tiny colorful orbs that are easy to grow.
Botanical name   capsicum annuum
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2022
Storage Info   Seed stock refreshed yearly
Contains at least   20 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50
Out of stock
Long Island Cheese Squash - 245CMK

Long Island Cheese Squash - 245CMK

Details   Thought to be one of the oldest domesticated squash types, Long Island Cheese is known for its smooth, string less flesh and rich flavour
Botanical name   Cucurbita pepo
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2023
Contains at least   20
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
Fennel - Bronze - 271CMK

Fennel - Bronze - 271CMK

Details   This is not a building fennel, the green/brown leaves are useful in soups,pickles,roasts,salads and many more culinary dishes. Easy to grow, great for the bee’s as well and looks pretty intermixed into a veggie garden or cottage garden setting
Botanical name   Foeniculum vulgare
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2023
Storage Info   Seed stock refreshed yearly
Contains at least   30 seeds
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
Speckled Hound - 158CMK

Speckled Hound - 158CMK

Details   Easy to grow, stores well, great flesh very tasty, kids love collecting these because of their size and interesting colouring
Botanical name   Cucurbita maxima
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Date Of Seed Harvest   march 2020
Contains at least   20
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Out of stock
Waltham Butternut - 215CMK

Waltham Butternut - 215CMK

Details   Regarded as a winter squash meaning they keep well into winter time and beyond,  has a dry sweet and creamy yellow colour flesh.
Botanical name   Cucurbita moschata
Contains at least   20
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Only 1 in stock   Order
Tussock swamp twig rush - 216CMK

Tussock swamp twig rush - 216CMK

Details    A rhizomatous perennial that once established is quite tolerant of drought. does best in a slightly acidic soil and will tolerant of saline conditions.
Botanical name   Machaerina juncea
Contains at least   30
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Out of stock
Toi toi - North Island - 264CMK

Toi toi - North Island - 264CMK

Details   This North Island toi toi is a tough and very useful plant can grow in most conditions from in the garden to stream edged, has beautiful upright plumes which can reach up to 3.5 meters, this toi toi is medium in size, flowers are also useful as decoration’s
Botanical name   Austroderia fulvida
Contains at least   50 seeds
Date Of Seed Harvest   April 2023
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Storage Info   Seed stock refreshed yearly
Price per packet   $5.50
Watch   Order
Toi toi - Mini - 91aCMK

Toi toi - Mini - 91aCMK

Details   An easy care plant with lush green foliage that is drought and wind tolerant, grows well in free draining soil. Grows to around a metre tall
Botanical name   Chronochioa flavicans
Contains at least   100
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2022
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Storage Info   Seed stock refreshed yearly
Price per packet   $4.50
  Order
Sweet Orange - Capsicum - 240CMK

Sweet Orange - Capsicum - 240CMK

Details  
Yellow and Orange peppers tastes a little less sweet than red peppers, crunchy and juicy, grow from medium to large in size. Plant grows to approximately one meter in height, they are part of the night shade family.
Botanical name   Capsicum Annuum
Contains at least   40 seeds
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2023
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
Swan Plant - 221CMK

Swan Plant - 221CMK

Details  
The swan plant is the food source for monarch butterfly as well as other species. Seedlings take about four months to grow to size may need protection to get them that size before butterflies find them to have a bigger food source, they can smell them up to 2 kms away, trees can grow up to two meters in height
Botanical name   Gomphocarpus fruticosus
Contains at least   30
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Only 9 in stock   Order
Queensland Blue Pumpkin - 225CMK

Queensland Blue Pumpkin - 225CMK

Details   Australian heirloom pumpkin, deep bluish green in colour with deep ribbing, sweet orange flesh, can also eat the skin.
Botanical name   Cucurbits maxima
Contains at least   30
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
  Order
Pohutukawa Metrosideros exselsa - 110CMK

Pohutukawa Metrosideros exselsa - 110CMK

Details   Often called the NZ native Christmas Tree, grows to 9-10 m tall, can be used as a screen or hedge tree. Tolerates drought, wind and salt spray Easy to grow, plant in free draining soil
Botanical name   Pohutukawa Metrosideros exselsa
Contains at least   approx 100
Date Of Seed Harvest   2021
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Only 9 in stock   Order
Pohutukawa - Springfire/Mauri Princess - 124CMK

Pohutukawa - Springfire/Mauri Princess - 124CMK

Details   Grows to 5 m, sensitive to frost while still young, good as a screening or specimen tree. Grows well in coastal area.
Botanical name   Metrosideros excelsa
Contains at least   100
Date Of Seed Harvest   2021
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
Passionfruit - Black Beauty - 119CMK

Passionfruit - Black Beauty - 119CMK

Details  
Passionfruit has a sweet and tangy taste, great eating on its own or with ice cream or made into a jelly. When growing they appreciate soil rich in organic matter. Protect from strong winds and frost, prefers a sunny location where it can grow up a support. They like a bit of fertiliser in the spring.
Contains at least   20
Date Of Seed Harvest   Sep 2022
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Storage Info   Seed stock refreshed yearly
Price per packet   $4.50
Only 4 in stock   Order
Oi Oi / Jointed Rush - 152CMK

Oi Oi / Jointed Rush - 152CMK

Details   Oi Oi grows well in dry or wet areas, nice grown on the edge of water, mass plantings or companion planting also suitable grown in pots. Also suitable in coastal areas, a very hardy reed. Has a habit of arching with new growth coming thru straight, grows to one meter
Botanical name   Apodasmia Similis
Contains at least   50
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2022
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
New Zealand wind Grass - 176CMK

New Zealand wind Grass - 176CMK

Details   Grows into a dense fountain like clump about 90cm tall. Likes full sun or part shade areas from well-drained to heavy soils, will handle dry summers also.
Botanical name   Anemanthele lessoniana
Contains at least   100
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2023
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
  Order
Musquee de Provence - 114CMK

Musquee de Provence - 114CMK

Details   Originates from France, can grow from 5 - 15 kg and stores well, thin skinned so can be peeled as well. Are green when younger mature to a rich brown colour, (can be different shades of colour depending on how much light they are exposed to). A very nice pumpkin to grow
Botanical name   C. moschata
Contains at least   20
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
Mitrosideros Mistral Rata - Pohutukawa Hybrid - 195CMK

Mitrosideros Mistral Rata - Pohutukawa Hybrid - 195CMK

Details   Grows to approximately 5 m can handle light frosts, tolerates coastal conditions. Great in extra large pots, border plants, hedging, or stand alone statement shrubs
Botanical name   Metrosideros robusta
Contains at least   approx 100
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Out of stock
Kauri - 194CMK

Kauri - 194CMK

Details   Kauri trees look good planted on their own or in groups of three, seeds take 10-20 days to germinate in the right conditions, 50 years to be fully grown. Best suited to northern areas of NZ
Botanical name   Agathis australis
Contains at least   10
Date Of Seed Harvest   April 2023
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Storage Info   Seed stock refreshed yearly
Price per packet   $5.50
Watch Out of stock
Kaka Beak Rosea - red - 159CMK

Kaka Beak Rosea - red - 159CMK

Details   This Kakabeak is the smaller out of the two red varieties available, grows to two meters, shape as desired, can also be grown in a container. Will tolerate some frost, prefers to grow in a sheltered area away from strong winds, in free draining soil. Keep an eye out for caterpillars while still young.
Botanical name   Clianthus Puniceus
Contains at least   30
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Out of stock
Kaka Beak - white - 196CMK

Kaka Beak - white - 196CMK

Details   The white Kakabeak is a rare form of the red Kakabeak. Grows to 3 m depending on conditions, prefers full sun to partial shade, shape as desired, tolerates frost. Beautiful clusters of white flowers that resemble the beak of the kaka. Tui loves the flowers, occasionally slugs, snails or caterpillar like the plant too.
Botanical name   Clianthus Puniceus
Contains at least   30
Date Of Seed Harvest   2022
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Out of stock
Jarriahdale - 156CMK

Jarriahdale - 156CMK

Details   Jarrahdale pumpkin is a heirloom variety, native to Australia, they store well, are a good medium to large size, good flesh and easy to grow
Botanical name   Cucurbita maxima
Contains at least   20 seeds
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
Glass Gem Popping Corn - 100CMK

Glass Gem Popping Corn - 100CMK

Details   Glass Gem can be grounded into oatmeal, popped or used as a ornament. It’s a tall growing plant so choose a sheltered sight, grow in blocks for better pollination, away from other corn to avoid cross pollination. Each plant will grow 3/5 cobs. Give the kernels a chance to dry before popping the less moisture the better they will pop
Botanical name   Zea Mays
Contains at least   50
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2023
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
  Order
Crown Pumpkin - 226CMK

Crown Pumpkin - 226CMK

Details   Crown pumpkin has a bluish/grey skin, with orange flesh. Great for soups, roasts and in baking. Grows well in a drained site
Botanical name   Cucurbits maxima
Contains at least   20
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Price per packet   $4.50
Only 3 in stock   Order
cosmos white - 272CMK

cosmos white - 272CMK

Details   Cosmos are an annual, the flower is daisy like in appearance, they like it in full sun and not fussy as far as soil type goes. Easy to grow from seed flower from summer to late autumn. Can reach to 6 foot and are a good cut flower.
Botanical name   Cosmos bipinnatus
Contains at least   40
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2023
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
Corokia Orange - 33CMK

Corokia Orange - 33CMK

Details   Corokia is ideal to grow as a hedge or stand alone, long slender leaves with the underside bring white, has orange berries, grows to 2 x 1.2 m
Botanical name   Argophyllaceae
Contains at least   20 seeds
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
Corokia - Red wonder - 48CMK

Corokia - Red wonder - 48CMK

Details   Corokia’s are a tight growing shrub/small tree making it very suitable for hedges small or large. Will tolerate  strong winds but does not like salt spray but still a good coastal tree. Grows to 2 m
Botanical name   Argophyllaceae
Contains at least   20 seeds
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
Chatreuse Green Snake - 244CMK

Chatreuse Green Snake - 244CMK

Details   The green snake bean can grow to 70-80cm long best harvested when the reach 45cm unless your saving seeds They are stringless can be eaten raw when young or more matured can be steamed or used in stews or stir fried grow on a support
Botanical name   Foeniculum valgare
Contains at least   30
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2023
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Storage Info   Seed stock refreshed yearly
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Out of stock
Carex Comans - 209CMK

Carex Comans - 209CMK

Details   Fine leaved tufted sedge can be planted in masse or interplanted even looks great in pots, rockery or borders, prefers a free draining soil
Botanical name   Cyperaceae
Contains at least   approx 100
Date Of Seed Harvest   Jan 2023
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $5.50
  Order
Cabbage Tree - Three Kings - 212CMK

Cabbage Tree - Three Kings - 212CMK

Details  
A compact growing tree, can grow up to 6 meters. Trunk can grow solitary or branch out
Botanical name   Obtecta
Contains at least   40 seeds
Date Of Seed Harvest   March 2022
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Storage Info   Seed frozen stored
Price per packet   $5.50
  Order
Australian Blue Oat Grass - 253CMK

Australian Blue Oat Grass - 253CMK

Details   Great for borders, containers, companion planting, or in masse. This hardy grass can tolerate most soils, easy care and very striking with its blue colour.
Botanical name   Helictotrichon sempervirens
Contains at least   approx 100
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2023
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Only 7 in stock   Order
Amish Rockmelon - 232CMK

Amish Rockmelon - 232CMK

Details   Smaller in size so doesn’t require as long a summer to grow unlike the bigger ones, plant in rich soil in direct sunlight once frost’s have passed.
fruit grows to 20 cm across 3 kg in weight, flesh is orange.
Heirloom
Disease resistant
Botanical name   Cucumis melo
Contains at least   20
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2023
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch Out of stock
Ake ake - green - 192CMK

Ake ake - green - 192CMK

Details   Ake Ake is a bushy shrub/tree green in colour, has a flaky trunk, flowers in panicles yellow/green red/green, handles light frosts and tolerates coastal conditions, can be trimmed to size, grows up to 7 meters.
Botanical name   Dodonaea Viscosa
Contains at least   30
Date Of Seed Harvest   Feb 2023
Grower name   Carla McKnight
Price per packet   $4.50
Watch   Order
Carla McKnight

Carla McKnight

Details   Carla was born in Holland, moved to NZ with her family at age 9 and has always worked in gardens from a young age.
At age 15 she had at least 40 plants in her room, some rather large.
Still keen on house plants, just a few more than 40 now, she believes a house without plants is an empty shell.
 
Now married to husband Paul, together they have three grown children with seven young grand kids, on an eleven acres in the Waikato with three Clydesdales, two miniature horses and a Quarter horse x, two cats and a dog.
 
Carla has spent most of her life working in gardens, has always had a keen interest in growing indoor and outside plants especially interested in native plantings. Now has big vegetable gardens/fruit trees and a small mostly native nursery keeping her busy. Wanting to make that little bit of difference for our environment and wildlife, the more people plant trees and grow their own produce the better.
More