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Back to NZ Native Plants
More Native Plant Profiles
Xeronema callistemon
The Poor Knights Lily is a wonderful, architectural plant - spear-like leaves to 80cm and spikes of rust-red bottle brush flowers late spring/early summer. In the south it is a drammatic container plant, in the north in the border. Full sun, tender and difficult but try it!
Cultivation Must have good drainage and full sun, is frost tender (over-winter under cover in the south) and is most successful in a pot. Flowers best when somewhat root-bound. Some give an annual dousing with sea water
Propagation Propagate by seed or divide established plants.
Arthropodium cirratum
The Rengarenga has prolific sprays of white flowers in summer. The light green, broad strap-like leaves are useful as a foliage contrast. A lovely and useful groundcover in dry shade or on a bank.
Cultivation Tolerates coastal conditions, damp, dry shade or drought but dislikes too much sun. Grows to 0.4m-1.0m. Frost tender, it will usually come away again in spring.
Propagation Seed or division
Arthropodium cirratum
Geranium traversii
Geranium traversii, the Chatham Island geranium, is a gem from the Chatham Islands. Glaucous foliage forms a neat rosette that is a nice mound in the border or rock garden. Clear pink flowers are held over the foliage and appear over a long season. A number of new hybrids have been introduced, such as 'Pink Spice', with bronzy-purple foliage and the same clear pink flowers. Once you have it you will find offspring, but not so many as to be a nuisance.
CultivationPlant in well-drained soil and in partial shade or sun.
Propagation Seed | |
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Myosotidium hortensia
Growing to 30-60cm tall the dramatic glossy green, deeply veined foliage of the Chatham Island 'Forget-me-Not' alone justify finding a special position for it in your garden. However, the large heads of blue, 'forget-me-not' flowers each spring are breathtaking. Not an easy plant but a splendid one. For those that like an oddity, there is a white variety.
Cultivation Deep, rich soils that are well drained but cool and moist in summer are needed. Frost tender, although (as our photograph shows, can withstand some frosts. In humid areas, ensure there is plenty of air-circulation to help prevent fungal diseases and root-rot.
Propagation Seed
Myosotidium hortensia flowers
Libertia peregrinans
A clump forming iris-like native. Bronzy, narrow strap leaves and bright white flowers in spring/summer, followed by yellow seed pods which remain for up to 2 months. Tougher and with more highly coloured foliage on dry sandy soils than the very similar L. ixioides and L. grandiflora. L. grandiflora has the largest flowers at 3cm (1in) and is a more graceful plant. Libertias are great border or gravel garden plants, adding vertical interest to a planting scheme.
Cultivation Plant in a sunny position and good soil in border/garden to encourage flowering. Will tolerate drier conditions. Propagate by seed or division (winter is best).
Propagation Seeds, cuttings from mature trees
Libertia grandiflora carries clear white flowers
Hibiscus trionum
An open plant that grows to about 60cm (2ft) with quite large single creamy-lemon flowers with a deep maroon-brown blotch appear over a long season. A coastal plant from the north.
Cultivation Prefers a sunny, dry position and protection from heavy frosts.
Propagation Seeds | | |
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