Introduction
Overview
New Zealand native flowering plants display a remarkable diversity of forms, colours, and ecological strategies. From the iconic kōwhai (Sophora spp.) with its bright yellow blooms to the vibrant red flowers of the pōhutukawa ( Metrosideros excelsa ), these plants provide essential food for native birds and insects. Many species, such as Clianthus maximus (Kākābeak) and Veronica salicifolia (Koromiko) (Hebe salicifolia is a synonym of Veronica salicifolia), are popular in gardens for their ornamental value and ability to attract pollinators. Native flowering plants are crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems and supporting biodiversity.
About New Zealand's Native Flowers
New Zealand's native flowering plants offer unique colours and forms that have evolved in isolation. While often more subtle than exotic garden varieties, our native flowers have special adaptations to local conditions and provide essential food for native birds, bees, and other pollinators. Alpine specialists like NZ Plantain showcase remarkable evolutionary adaptations to high-altitude environments, while spectacular bloomers like Mountain Buttercup create brilliant golden carpets of colour across New Zealand's high country. Adding native flowering plants to your garden helps support local ecosystems.
Explore Our Native Flowering Plants
Shawia Paniculata Native Plant
Shawia paniculata
Shawia Paniculata Native Plant ( Shawia paniculata ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Shawia Solandri Native Plant
Shawia solandri
Shawia Solandri Native Plant ( Shawia solandri ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Siphonolejeunea Raharahanehemiae Native Plant
Siphonolejeunea raharahanehemiae
Siphonolejeunea Raharahanehemiae Native Plant ( Siphonolejeunea raharahanehemiae ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Sison Amomum Native Plant
Sison amomum
Sison Amomum Native Plant ( Sison amomum ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Solanum Aviculare Native Plant
Solanum aviculare
Solanum Aviculare Native Plant ( Solanum aviculare ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Solanum Laciniatum Native Plant
Solanum laciniatum
Solanum Laciniatum Native Plant ( Solanum laciniatum ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Sonchus Kirkii Native Plant
Sonchus kirkii
Sonchus Kirkii Native Plant ( Sonchus kirkii ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Sonchus Novae Zelandiae Native Plant
Sonchus novae-zelandiae
Sonchus Novae Zelandiae Native Plant ( Sonchus novae-zelandiae ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Spatoglossum Chapmanii Native Plant
Spatoglossum chapmanii
Spatoglossum Chapmanii Native Plant ( Spatoglossum chapmanii ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Sphagnum Fimbriatum Native Plant
Sphagnum fimbriatum
Sphagnum Fimbriatum Native Plant ( Sphagnum fimbriatum ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Spiranthes Sinensis Native Plant
Spiranthes sinensis
Spiranthes Sinensis Native Plant ( Spiranthes sinensis ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Sporadanthus Ferrugineus Native Plant
Sporadanthus ferrugineus
Sporadanthus Ferrugineus Native Plant ( Sporadanthus ferrugineus ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Sporochnus Elsieae Native Plant
Sporochnus elsieae
Sporochnus Elsieae Native Plant ( Sporochnus elsieae ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Sprengelia Incarnata Native Plant
Sprengelia incarnata
Sprengelia Incarnata Native Plant ( Sprengelia incarnata ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Stipa Petriei Native Plant
Stipa petriei
Stipa Petriei Native Plant ( Stipa petriei ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Strigula Novae Zelandiae Native Plant
Strigula novae-zelandiae
Strigula Novae Zelandiae Native Plant ( Strigula novae-zelandiae ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Strigula Oleistrata Native Plant
Strigula oleistrata
Strigula Oleistrata Native Plant ( Strigula oleistrata ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Taraxacum Pseudohamatum Native Plant
Taraxacum pseudohamatum
Taraxacum Pseudohamatum Native Plant ( Taraxacum pseudohamatum ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Taraxacum Zealandicum Native Plant
Taraxacum zealandicum
Taraxacum Zealandicum Native Plant ( Taraxacum zealandicum ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Tetrodontium Brownianum Native Plant
Tetrodontium brownianum
Tetrodontium Brownianum Native Plant ( Tetrodontium brownianum ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Teucrium Parvifolium Native Plant
Teucrium parvifolium
Teucrium Parvifolium Native Plant ( Teucrium parvifolium ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Thelymitra Carnea Native Plant
Thelymitra carnea
Thelymitra Carnea Native Plant ( Thelymitra carnea ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Thelymitra Malvina Native Plant
Thelymitra malvina
Thelymitra Malvina Native Plant ( Thelymitra malvina ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Thelymitra Matthewsii Native Plant
Thelymitra matthewsii
Thelymitra Matthewsii Native Plant ( Thelymitra matthewsii ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Thismia Rodwayi Native Plant
Thismia rodwayi
Thismia Rodwayi Native Plant ( Thismia rodwayi ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Thuidiopsis Sparsa Native Plant
Thuidiopsis sparsa
Thuidiopsis Sparsa Native Plant ( Thuidiopsis sparsa ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Thyridia Repens Native Plant
Thyridia repens
Thyridia Repens Native Plant ( Thyridia repens ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Treubia Lacunosa Native Plant
Treubia lacunosa
Treubia Lacunosa Native Plant ( Treubia lacunosa ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Triglochin Minutissima Native Plant
Triglochin minutissima
Triglochin Minutissima Native Plant ( Triglochin minutissima ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Trimeris Anceps Native Plant
Trimeris anceps
Trimeris Anceps Native Plant ( Trimeris anceps ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Trithuria Inconspicua Native Plant
Trithuria inconspicua
Trithuria Inconspicua Native Plant ( Trithuria inconspicua ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Trithuria Inconspicua Subsp Brevistyla Native Plant
Trithuria inconspicua
Trithuria Inconspicua Subsp Brevistyla Native Plant ( Trithuria inconspicua subsp.
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Ulva Compressa Native Plant
Ulva compressa
Ulva Compressa Native Plant ( Ulva compressa ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Urtica Aspera Native Plant
Urtica aspera
Urtica Aspera Native Plant ( Urtica aspera ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Urtica Australis Native Plant
Urtica australis
Urtica Australis Native Plant ( Urtica australis ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Urtica Incisa Native Plant
Urtica incisa
Urtica Incisa Native Plant ( Urtica incisa ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Urtica Perconfusa Native Plant
Urtica perconfusa
Urtica Perconfusa Native Plant ( Urtica perconfusa ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Urtica Sykesii Native Plant
Urtica sykesii
Urtica Sykesii Native Plant ( Urtica sykesii ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Utricularia Australis Native Plant
Utricularia australis
Utricularia Australis Native Plant ( Utricularia australis ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Utricularia Dichotoma Native Plant
Utricularia dichotoma
Utricularia Dichotoma Native Plant ( Utricularia dichotoma ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Utricularia Geminiscapa Native Plant
Utricularia geminiscapa
Utricularia Geminiscapa Native Plant ( Utricularia geminiscapa ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Utricularia Gibba Native Plant
Utricularia gibba
Utricularia Gibba Native Plant ( Utricularia gibba ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Veronica Brachysiphon Native Plant
Veronica brachysiphon
Veronica Brachysiphon Native Plant ( Veronica brachysiphon ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Veronica Ciliolata Native Plant
Veronica ciliolata
Veronica Ciliolata Native Plant ( Veronica ciliolata ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Veronica Diosmifolia Native Plant
Veronica diosmifolia
Veronica Diosmifolia Native Plant ( Veronica diosmifolia ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Veronica Epacridea Native Plant
Veronica epacridea
Veronica Epacridea Native Plant ( Veronica epacridea ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Veronica Hectorii Native Plant
Veronica hectorii
Veronica Hectorii Native Plant ( Veronica hectorii ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Veronica Jovellanoides Native Plant
Veronica jovellanoides
Veronica Jovellanoides Native Plant ( Veronica jovellanoides ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
Learn moreGrowing Native Flowers in Your Garden
Tips for Success with Native Flowers
Native flowering plants can add colour and interest to your garden while providing food for native birds and insects. Most prefer well-draining soil and a sunny position, though some forest species will appreciate partial shade. Consider the natural habitat of each species when planning your garden.