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Native plants

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Native plants

The native flora of New Zealand is unique having evolved in isolation for millions of years.

80% of our trees, ferns and flowering plants are endemic (found only in New Zealand).

About 1 -15% of the total land area of New Zealand is covered with native flora, from tall kauri and kohekohe forests to rainforest dominated by rimu, beech, tawa, matai and rata; ferns and flax; dunelands with their spinifex and pingao; alpine and subalpine herb fields; and scrub and tussock.

Alpine plants

A very special and unusual group of plants occupies the harsh alpine zone of New Zealand's rugged mountains.

Auckland's threatened plants

Learn about Auckland's 170 threatened plants, including 70 which are regarded as of national conservation concern.

Beech forest

Find out about New Zealand's beech forests - the largest remaining indigenous forest type in New Zealand.

Cabbage tree/tī kōuka

The cabbage tree is one of the most distinctive trees in the New Zealand landscape, especially on farms. They grow all over the country, but prefer wet, open areas like swamps.

Chatham Island Christmas tree/rautini

The spectacular tree daisy Rautini, sometimes known as the Chatham Island Christmas tree, can grow up to 8 metres tall.

Chatham Island forget-me-not

The threatened Chatham Island forget-me-not, a much loved, stunning garden plant, grows naturally on the Chatham Islands - on coastal cliffs, rock outcrops and sandy and rocky beaches.

Chatham Islands plants

Find out about the many plants that grow on the Chatham Islands, both native and introduced.

Coastal cress

Find out about one of New Zealand's lesser known endangered species - the coastal cress.

Dactylanthus

Dactylanthus is New Zealand's only indigenous fully parasitic flowering plant.

Ferns

New Zealand has an unusually high number of fern species for a temperate country and about 40 per cent of these species occur nowhere else in the world.

Golden sand sedge/pīkao/pīngao

Pīkao or pīngao is a native sand-binding sedge that plays an important role in New Zealand's dune ecosystems.

Harakeke/flax

Harakeke/flax is really a lily that is one of New Zealand's oldest plant species.

Kakabeak

The kowhai ngutukaka/kakabeak is found only in New Zealand. The shrub features clusters of stunning red flowers each spring.

Kauri

Kauri are one of the world's mightiest trees. They can grow to more than 50 metres tall.

Lancewood/horoeka

Lancewood, or horoeka, is a unique, small tree with lance-like foliage that changes dramatically as the tree matures.

Leonohebe cupressoides ("Fragrant hebe")

Leonohebe cupressoides (formally know as Hebe cupressoides) is a threatened plant found on the eastern side of the South Island's Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana.

Mānuka/kāhikatoa & kānuka

Although mānuka/kāhikatoa and kānuka have a superficial similarity and are collectively known as 'tea trees' they are genetically very distinct from each other.

Matagouri/wild Irishman

Matagouri, or wild Irishman as it is sometimes called, is a thorny bush or small tree that can grow up to six metres high.

Mistletoe

Find out about New Zealand's nine native mistletoes.

Motukarara Conservation Nursery

Motukarara Conservation Nursery grows Canterbury plants exclusively. Information on the nursery and how to plan and maintain a native garden.

Mount Cook lily

The Mount Cook lily is in fact not a lily at all. Learn more about one of New Zealand's most well known alpine plants.

Nīkau palm

The nīkau palm is the southernmost member of the palm family and New Zealand's only native palm species.

New Zealand cedars/pāhautea & kawaka

Commonly referred to as New Zealand cedars, pāhautea and another species kaikawaka or kawaka, are not true cedars at all.

Olearia hectorii (Hectors tree daisy)

Olearia Hectorii is one of the most threatenened members of New Zealand's rare, eight-species oleria or small-leaved tree daisy family.

Pittosporum patulum

Pittosporum patulum is a small tree that grows up to six metres high, in sub-alpine scrub and mountain beech forest in the South Island.

Podocarp-hardwood forests

Podocarp trees, such as rimu, kahikatea, miro, mataī and tōtara, boast a lineage that stretches back to the time when New Zealand was part of the super continent of Gondwana.

Rata

Rata trees, along with the pohutukawa, are one of the best known native trees in New Zealand. The rata and pohutukawa belong in the myrtle family of trees.

Shrubby tororaro

Learn about the ecological and cultural significance of shrubby tororaro.

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Publications

Tree planting for attracting native birds
Threatened species If you are interested in beginning your own restoration project, the DOC publication ecological restoration guidelines (PDF, 396K) is a helpful resource.

Learn more

Native plants and restoration projects

Mainland islands An innovative approach to conserving our native plants.

The Loder Cup is awarded for plant conservation.

Biodiversity Projects database - a catalogue of NZ biodiversity monitoring projects