Native Alpine Plants | NZ Native Plants

Alpine Plants hero image

Introduction

Overview

New Zealand's alpine plants are specially adapted to survive in harsh, high-altitude environments with extreme temperatures, strong winds, and intense sunlight. These plants often have compact forms, hairy or waxy leaves, and vibrant flowers. Notable species includes Raoulia eximia (Vegetable Sheep), Celmisia spectabilis (Alpine Daisy), Leather-leaved Daisy with its distinctive orange-striped leaves, Cotton Daisy with its silvery cushion habit, Aciphylla aurea (Golden Speargrass), and Bush Astelia with its striking bronze foliage. Alpine plants play a vital role in stabilizing fragile soils and supporting unique alpine ecosystems. They are also prized in rock gardens and alpine plantings for their resilience and striking appearance. Hardy shrubs like Bush Snowberry , Large-flowered Snowberry , and Leatherwood provide year-round structure with their distinctive foliage textures and seasonal flowers.

New Zealand's alpine plants have evolved in isolation, resulting in high levels of endemism - species found nowhere else on Earth. Many form compact cushion-like growths or low mats to withstand harsh conditions, while others have developed woolly coverings, waxy surfaces, or antifreeze compounds in their tissues. Some species like Musky Tree Daisy have evolved aromatic compounds and silvery foliage to cope with intense mountain conditions.

Beyond their natural mountain habitats, many alpine species make excellent additions to rock gardens or container plantings, bringing a touch of New Zealand's high country to more accessible settings. Subalpine shrubs like Lacebark with its distinctive narrow leaves and textured bark create architectural interest. Their compact growth habits and often striking flowers make them prized by plant enthusiasts worldwide. Spectacular alpine bloomers like Mountain Buttercup create brilliant golden carpets across high-country landscapes. Suitable species include distinctive alpine herbs like Black-stemmed Willow Herb with its purple-black stems and specialized endemics such as NZ Plantain with its distinctive rosette form. For shaded rock gardens, consider pairing with delicate ferns like Maidenhair Spleenwort , while exposed areas can accommodate hardy species like Prickly Shield Fern with its robust, cold-tolerant fronds.

Bidibidi (Acaena anserinifolia)

Bidibid

Acaena anserinifolia

Concise overview of Bidibidi, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration.

Colenso's Speargrass (Aciphylla colensoi)

Colenso's Speargrass

Aciphylla colensoi

Concise overview of Colenso's Speargrass, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration.

Common Speargrass (Aciphylla squarrosa)

Common Speargrass

Aciphylla squarrosa

Concise overview of Common Speargrass, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration.

Congested Speargrass (Aciphylla congesta)

Congested Speargrass

Aciphylla congesta

Concise overview of Congested Speargrass, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration.

Abrotanella Pusilla

Small Cushion Daisy

Abrotanella pusilla

Concise overview of Cushion Daisy, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration.

Mat Cushion Daisy (Abrotanella caespitosa)

Mat Cushion Daisy

Abrotanella caespitosa

Forms tight alpine mats that handle frost, wind, and gritty soils.

Dieffenbach's Speargrass (Aciphylla dieffenbachii)

Dieffenbach's Speargrass

Aciphylla dieffenbachii

Concise overview of Dieffenbach's Speargrass, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration.

Abrotanella Pusilla

Fertile Cushion Daisy

Abrotanella pusilla

Concise overview of Fertile Cushion Daisy, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration.

Aciphylla Anomala

Speargrass

Aciphylla anomala

Concise overview of Horrid Speargrass, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration.

Small Cushion Daisy (Abrotanella pusilla)

Tiny Cushion Daisy

Abrotanella pusilla

Concise overview of Small Cushion Daisy, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration.

Speargrass (Aciphylla anomala)

Golden Speargrass

Aciphylla anomala

Concise overview of Speargrass, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration.

Fan-leaf Speargrass (Aciphylla subflabellata)

Fan-leaf Speargrass

Aciphylla subflabellata

Concise overview of Fan-leaf Speargrass, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration.

Yellow Pine (Halocarpus biformis)

Yellow Pine

Halocarpus biformis

Yellow pine is a small native conifer with distinctive yellow-green foliage, found in alpine and subalpine areas.

Īnanga (Dracophyllum filifolium)

Īnanga

Dracophyllum filifolium

Īnanga is a slender native shrub with grass-like leaves, common in alpine and subalpine areas.

River Fern (Cranfillia fluviatilis)

River Fern

Cranfillia fluviatilis

River fern is a native fern species found along waterways and in damp forest areas.

Shore Astelia (Astelia banksii)

Shore Astelia

Astelia banksii

Shore astelia is a coastal and alpine plant with sword-like leaves and distinctive orange berries.

Fragrant Astelia (Astelia fragrans)

Fragrant Astelia

Astelia fragrans

Fragrant astelia is an alpine plant with aromatic silver-green leaves and red berries.

Alpine Daisy (Celmisia spectabilis)

Alpine Daisy

Celmisia spectabilis

A spectacular alpine daisy with large white flowers and distinctive silvery leaves found in high mountain areas.

Shore Bindweed (Calystegia soldanella)

Shore Bindweed

Calystegia soldanella

A coastal and alpine vine with distinctive pink trumpet flowers and kidney-shaped leaves.

Yellow Silver Pine (Lepidothamnus intermedius)

Yellow Silver Pine

Lepidothamnus intermedius

Yellow silver pine is a small alpine conifer with distinctive golden-yellow foliage, found in high mountain regions.

Pygmy Pine (Lepidothamnus laxifolius)

Pygmy Pine

Lepidothamnus laxifolius

Pygmy pine is a prostrate alpine conifer that forms low mats in harsh mountain environments.

Mountain Toatoa (Phyllocladus alpinus)

Mountain Toatoa

Phyllocladus alpinus

Mountain toatoa is an alpine conifer with distinctive flattened 'leaves' that are actually modified branches.

Tānekaha (Phyllocladus trichomanoides)

Tānekaha

Phyllocladus trichomanoides

Tānekaha is a unique conifer that grows from alpine to lowland areas, with flattened photosynthetic shoots instead of true leaves.

Acrothamnus Colensoi Agrostis Muelleriana Alseuosmia Pusilla Anaphalioides Bellidioides Anisotome Filifolia Anthosachne Aprica Anthosachne Sacandros Anthosachne Scabra Anthosachne Solandri Ascarina Lucida Astelia Chathamica Astelia Graminea Astelia Hastata Astelia Nivicola Astelia Trinervia Atriplex Hollowayi Austroblechnum Durum Austroderia Fulvida Austroderia Richardii Austroderia Splendens Austroderia Turbaria Blechnum Montanum Brachyglottis Arborescens Brachyglottis Bidwillii Brachyglottis Elaeagnifolia Brachyglottis Greyi Brachyglottis Huntii Brachyglottis Pentacopa Brachyglottis Perdicioides Brachyglottis Sciadophila Brachyglottis Stewartiae Brachyglottis Traversii Bulbinella Angustifolia Bulbinella Gibbsii Bulbinella Hookeri Bulbinella Modesta Bulbinella Talbotii Caltha Obtusa Cardamine Glara Red Tussock Carex Healyi Carex Horizontalis Carex Imbecilla Carex Petriei Carmichaelia Appressa Carmichaelia Petriei Celmisia Alpina Celmisia Angustifolia Celmisia Discolour Celmisia Durietzii Celmisia Haastii Celmisia Laricifolia Celmisia Lateralis Celmisia Mackaui Celmisia Major Celmisia Monroi Celmisia Verbascifolia Centrolepis Pallida Chaerophyllum Colensoi Chenopodium Triandrum Chionochloa Australis Chionochloa Flavescens Chionochloa Pallens Clematis Forsteri Codium Cranwelliae Colobanthus Acicularis Convolvulus Verecundus Coprosma Petriei Coriaria Arborea Coriaria Sarmentosa Cranfillia Deltoides Dactylanthus Taylorii Dendroligotrichum Tongariroense Dicksonia Lanata Disphyma Australe Dolichoglottis Lyallii Dracophyllum Cockayneanum Dracophyllum Densum Dracophyllum Kirkii Dracophyllum Menziesii Dracophyllum Muscoides Dracophyllum Oliveri Dracophyllum Ophioliticum Meryta Sinclairii Metrosideros Bartlettii Metrosideros Kermadecensis Myrsine Aquilonia Myrsine Chathamica Nestegis Apetala Nestegis Montana Olearia Allomii Olearia Angulata Akiraho Olearia Fimbriata Olearia Furfuracea Olearia Gardneri Olearia Lineata Olearia Lyallii Olearia Telmatica Mountain Holly Pittosporum Ellipticum Pittosporum Huttonianum Pittosporum Obcordatum Pittosporum Patulum Pittosporum Ralphii Pittosporum Umbellatum Pittosporum Virgatum Ribbonwood Podocarpus Acutifolius Pseudopanax Ferox Pseudowintera Insperata Pseudowintera Traversii Quintinia Serrata Sophora Godleyi Sophora Longicarinata