Iconic New Zealand native plants
Kauri (Agathis australis)
The majestic kauri tree is the only member of this coniferous genus that is endemic to New Zealand. It grows up to 60m tall with an impressive trunk girth of up to 16m. These ancient trees can live for up to 2000 years and New Zealand's largest kauri, Tane Mahuta in Northland, is appropriately named after the Maori God of the Forest.
Of the 1.2 million hectares of native kauri forest, only 80,000 hectares now remain. All mature kauri trees, whether in the wild or on private land, are now protected by conservation legislation in New Zealand.
Kowharawhara (Astelia banksii)
There are 13 species of kowharawhara found only in New Zealand. The coastal species, Astelia banksii, grows up to 2m tall with silver-green, strappy leaves. It grows on rocks and banks as an epiphyte and has greenish flowers followed by purple fruit, which were traditionally eaten by Maori.
Pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa)
New Zealand's most iconic flowering tree, the native pohutukawa will feature in the 100% Pure New Zealand Garden.
Gnarled specimens cling to the cliffs around the north of the North Island, casting a canopy of welcome shade over many of New Zealand's most picturesque beaches. The undersides of the leathery grey-green leaves are dusted with felty white tomentum - but it is the species' spectacular blooming habit that endears it to tourists and locals alike. Mature trees erupt in a blaze of crimson bottlebrush-like flowers each December, hence their common name: the New Zealand Christmas tree. Metrosideros excelsa has nectar-rich red flowers that attract native tui and bellbirds.
Northern rata (Metrosideros robusta)
Metrosideros robusta can grow up to 25m tall but it is very slow-growing and takes at least a decade to reach its peak flowering performance. Like the pohutukawa, the northern rata produces clusters of vivid red summer flowers.
There are 12 species of Metrosideros endemic to New Zealand and half are either climbers or epiphytes. The northern rata germinates as an epiphyte in the branches of a host tree, colonising the trunk as it sends it roots to the ground.
Toothed lancewood (Pseudopanax ferox)
This highly unusual native tree suffers a mid-life identity crisis, when it metamorphosises from its distinctive juvenile phase into a rather sedate adult. As a juvenile it has a slender central stem punctuated with stiff, downward-facing leaves of bronze and chocolate-brown, giving it a dramatic prehistoric appearance.
Nikau (Rhopalostylis sapida)
The New Zealand nikau is a statuesque palm with a slender trunk and deep green upright fronds. It grows up to 10m tall in the wild and eventually produces drooping clusters of pale purple flowers followed by bright red berries. The berries take up to 12 months to ripen. This palm grows naturally in lowland forests throughout the North Island, and in northern parts of the South Island.
Maori traditionally used nikau fronds for weaving food baskets and thatching houses. The pith, or central core, of the tree is edible and the sap was valued for relieving labour pains during childbirth.
Coprosma propinqua
New Zealand boasts 45 species of coprosma, from the shiny-leafed mirror plant (Coprosma repens) that stands firm even in exposed coastal situations to the divaricating sand dune coprosma (Coprosma acerosa) that forms a low spongy carpet of tangled stems.
Coprosma propinqua is another divaricating species that grows up to 4m tall, with tiny oval leaves not dissimilar to culinary rosemary. It bears translucent blue berries along its stems and is a versatile groundcover for hot, dry climates.
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