Ferns | NZ Native Plants

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Introduction

Overview

New Zealand’s native ferns range from delicate groundcovers to towering tree ferns and are found from damp lowland forests to windswept alpine gullies. They play a vital role in forest structure, sheltering seedlings, stabilising slopes, and creating rich habitat for invertebrates and birds. In gardens, ferns provide year‑round texture and thrive in shaded, moist positions with good organic matter and consistent moisture.

Adder's Tongue

Adder's Tongue

Ophioglossum coriaceum

Unique primitive fern with a single leathery leaf and a distinctive upright spore-bearing spike.

Lygodium Articulatum

Mangemange

Lygodium articulatum

Mangemange is resilient with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Adiantum Cunninghamii

Cunningham's Maidenhair Fern

Adiantum cunninghamii

Cunningham's Maidenhair Fern is wind-hardy with notable shelter value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Asplenium Bulbiferum

Mother Spleenwort

Asplenium bulbiferum

Mother Spleenwort is bird-attracting with notable shelter value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Doodia Australis

Rasp Fern

Doodia australis

Rasp Fern is fast-growing with notable restoration use; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Austroblechnum Colensoi

Colenso's Hard Fern

Austroblechnum colensoi

Colenso's Hard Fern is wind-hardy with notable restoration use; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Sticherus Cunninghamii

Umbrella Fern

Sticherus cunninghamii

Umbrella Fern is fast-growing with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Adiantum Diaphanum

Small Maidenhair Fern

Adiantum diaphanum

Small Maidenhair Fern is resilient with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Adiantum Hispidulum

Rough Maidenhair Fern

Adiantum hispidulum

Rough Maidenhair Fern is resilient with notable shelter value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Asplenium Flabellifolium

Necklace Fern

Asplenium flabellifolium

Necklace Fern is fast-growing with notable restoration use; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Piripiri

Piripiri

Hymenophyllum sanguinolentum

Widespread and uniquely aromatic New Zealand filmy fern that forms dense, dark green mats in forest environments.

Shore Spleenwort

Shore Spleenwort

Asplenium obtusatum

Hardy coastal fern with thick fleshy fronds, built to withstand salt spray and exposed rocky environments.

Asplenium Flaccidum

Hanging Spleenwort

Asplenium flaccidum

Hanging Spleenwort is coastal-tolerant with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Asplenium Oblongifolium

Huruhuru-Whenua

Asplenium oblongifolium

Huruhuru-Whenua is wind-hardy with notable attractive form; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Asplenium Polyodon

Sickle Spleenwort

Asplenium polyodon

Sickle Spleenwort is resilient with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Austroblechnum Lanceolatum

Lance Fern

Austroblechnum lanceolatum

Lance Fern is long-lived with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Austroblechnum Penna-marina

Alpine Water Fern

Austroblechnum penna-marina

Alpine Water Fern is wind-hardy with notable attractive form; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Blechnum Discolor

Crown Fern

Blechnum discolour

Crown Fern is resilient with notable attractive form; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Blechnum Filiforme

Thread Fern

Blechnum filiforme

Thread Fern is coastal-tolerant with notable nectar for wildlife; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Blechnum Novae-zelandiae

Kiokio

Blechnum novae-zelandiae

Kiokio is bird-attracting with notable attractive form; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Blechnum Procerum

Small Kiokio

Blechnum procerum

Small Kiokio is fast-growing with notable nectar for wildlife; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Pellaea Rotundifolia

Button Fern

Pellaea rotundifolia

Button Fern is coastal-tolerant with notable shelter value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Pteris Tremula

Shaking Brake

Pteris tremula

Shaking Brake is bird-attracting with notable shelter value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Polystichum Richardii

Richard's Shield Fern

Polystichum richardii

Richard's Shield Fern is coastal-tolerant with notable attractive form; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Sphaeropteris Medullaris

Black Tree Fern

Sphaeropteris medullaris

Black Tree Fern is long-lived with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Tmesipteris Elongata

Long Fork Fern

Tmesipteris elongata

Long Fork Fern is coastal-tolerant with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Fork Fern

Fork Fern

Tmesipteris tannensis

Unique and ancient epiphytic fern ally, typically found hanging from the moisture-rich trunks of forest tree ferns.

Hymenophyllum Nephrophyllum

Kidney Fern

Hymenophyllum nephrophyllum

Kidney Fern is coastal-tolerant with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Gleichenia Dicarpa

Pouched Coral Fern

Gleichenia dicarpa

Pouched Coral Fern is resilient with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Hymenophyllum Demissum

Drooping Filmy Fern

Hymenophyllum demissum

Drooping Filmy Fern is resilient with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Much-divided Filmy Fern

Much-Divided Filmy Fern

Hymenophyllum multifidum

Delicate and intricate filmy fern with highly divided translucent fronds, forming dense carpets in moist forests.

Lastreopsis Hispida

Hairy Shield Fern

Lastreopsis hispida

Hairy Shield Fern is wind-hardy with notable nectar for wildlife; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Leptopteris Superba

Prince of Wales Feather

Leptopteris superba

Prince of Wales Feather is fast-growing with notable timber value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Microsorum Pustulatum

Kōwaowao

Microsorum pustulatum

Kōwaowao is resilient with notable evergreen foliage; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Doodia Media

Common Rasp Fern

Doodia media

Common Rasp Fern is resilient with notable shelter value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Cyathea Cunninghamii

Slender Tree Fern

Cyathea cunninghamii

Slender Tree Fern is long-lived with notable attractive form; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Cyathea Medullaris

Mamaku

Cyathea medullaris

Mamaku is long-lived with notable nectar for wildlife; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Cyathea Smithii

Soft Tree Fern

Cyathea smithii

Soft Tree Fern is fast-growing with notable shelter value; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Rārahu (Pteridium esculentum)

Rārahu

Pteridium esculentum

A vigorous, colonising fern of open sites and disturbed ground across New Zealand. Useful as a pioneer cover but can spread aggressively without management.

Whēkī

Whēkī

Dicksonia squarrosa

Whēkī is a magnificent native tree fern with fibrous trunk; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Silver Fern

Silver Fern

Cyathea dealbata

Silver Fern is a native New Zealand plant with notable features; well suited to New Zealand plantings.

Autumn Orchid

Autumn Orchid

Earina autumnalis

The Autumn Orchid is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid known for its fragrant white flowers and graceful appearance.

Spring Orchid

Spring Orchid

Earina mucronata

The Spring Orchid is a native New Zealand epiphytic orchid celebrated for its fragrant, delicate spring blooms.

Whisk Fern

Whisk Fern

Psilotum nudum

Primitive rootless native plant with architectural whip-like branches and yellow spore capsules.

Greenhood Orchid

Greenhood Orchid

Pterostylis banksii

Pterostylis banksii, the Greenhood Orchid, is a terrestrial orchid from New Zealand, known for its unique, hooded flower.

Trowel-leaved Greenhood

Trowel-Leaved Greenhood

Pterostylis trullifolia

Pterostylis trullifolia, the Trowel-leaved Greenhood, is a small terrestrial orchid native to New Zealand, noted for its unique flower shape.

Southern Greenhood

Southern Greenhood

Pterostylis australis

Pterostylis australis, the Southern Greenhood, is a native New Zealand terrestrial orchid with a distinctive green, hooded flower.