Alpine Plants
About New Zealand Native Alpine Plants
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 include Raoulia eximia (Vegetable Sheep), Celmisia spectabilis (Alpine Daisy), and Aciphylla aurea (Golden Speargrass). 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.
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.
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. Their compact growth habits and often striking flowers make them prized by plant enthusiasts worldwide.
Snow Tussock
Chionochloa flavicans
Graceful golden-toned tussock grass that provides structure and movement in alpine environments and gardens alike.
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Vegetable Sheep
Raoulia eximia
Remarkable cushion plant that resembles sheep from a distance, with densely packed woolly leaves forming a hard, compacted mound.
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Mountain Daisy
Brachyglottis lagopus
A small, woolly-leaved daisy from New Zealand's alpine regions, valued for its bright yellow flowers and resilience in rock gardens.
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Alpine Daisy
Celmisia spectabilis
Showy alpine daisy with silvery foliage and large white flowers, thriving in high-altitude gardens.
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Grass Tree
Dracophyllum filifolium
A slender, grass-like shrub with tufts of fine leaves, common in alpine and subalpine areas of New Zealand.
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Native Foxglove
Ourisia macrophylla
A perennial herb with large, white to pink tubular flowers, thriving in moist, shady alpine and subalpine sites.
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Horopito
Pseudowintera colorata
The native pepper tree with spicy leaves and striking red-spotted foliage, found in forests and alpine areas.
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Button Fern
Pellaea rotundifolia
Compact fern with distinctive round leaflets, perfect for rock gardens and alpine areas with well-drained soil.
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Yellow Pine
Halocarpus biformis
Yellow pine is a small native conifer with distinctive yellow-green foliage, found in alpine and subalpine areas.
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Inanga
Dracophyllum filifolium
Inanga is a slender native shrub with grass-like leaves, common in alpine and subalpine areas.
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River Fern
Cranfillia fluviatilis
River fern is a native fern species found along waterways and in damp forest areas.
Learn moreCreating an Alpine Rock Garden
Designing Your Alpine Garden
Many New Zealand alpine plants can thrive in well-designed rock gardens. Here are some tips for success:
- Drainage is crucial - Create raised beds with plenty of grit or small stones mixed into the soil
- Position matters - Most alpine plants need full sun, though some appreciate afternoon shade in hotter regions
- Use appropriate rocks - Larger rocks help create microclimates and provide shelter for delicate plants
- Consider scale - Group smaller species together and give larger ones space to develop
- Regional adaptations - In warmer regions, focus on lower-altitude alpine species that tolerate more heat