Since the year 2000 we have been involved in numerous restoration planting projects in urban environments. Our work has focussed mainly on sites within the city of Hamilton, but we have also been involved with projects in other New Zealand cities, such as New Plymouth and Tauranga. Our approach to restoration planting has involved a combination of science and practice. While the main aim is always to restore, reassemble or reconstruct plant communities dominated by native species, we also try to inject as much science into our projects as possible − research by management. The science underpinning is essential to understand specific site conditions, species selection, species composition, ecosystem processes and to monitor progress. Findings from our work have helped shape the best practice techniques for restoring indigenous plant communities in urban environments. Some main restoration planting principles are covered below along with two case studies from Hamilton. While we have focussed on urban settings, the principles and examples given are broadly applicable to plantings in the peri-urban and rural zones, especially riparian planting.