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
Celmisia Incana Native Plant
Celmisia incana
Celmisia Incana Native Plant ( Celmisia incana ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Celmisia Walkeri Native Plant
Celmisia walkeri
Celmisia Walkeri Native Plant ( Celmisia walkeri ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Centrolepis Ciliata Native Plant
Centrolepis ciliata
Centrolepis Ciliata Native Plant ( Centrolepis ciliata ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Ceodes Brunoniana Native Plant
Ceodes brunoniana
Ceodes Brunoniana Native Plant ( Ceodes brunoniana ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Champia Laingii Native Plant
Champia laingii
Champia Laingii Native Plant ( Champia laingii ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Chenopodium Detestans Native Plant
Chenopodium detestans
Chenopodium Detestans Native Plant ( Chenopodium detestans ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Clematis Cunninghamii Native Plant
Clematis cunninghamii
Clematis Cunninghamii Native Plant ( Clematis cunninghamii ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Clematis Foetida Native Plant
Clematis foetida
Clematis Foetida Native Plant ( Clematis foetida ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Clematis Marmoraria Native Plant
Clematis marmoraria
Clematis Marmoraria Native Plant ( Clematis marmoraria ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Climacium Dendroides Native Plant
Climacium dendroides
Climacium Dendroides Native Plant ( Climacium dendroides ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Convolvulus Fractosaxosus Native Plant
Convolvulus fractosaxosus
Convolvulus Fractosaxosus Native Plant ( Convolvulus fractosaxosus ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Convolvulus Waitaha Native Plant
Convolvulus waitaha
Convolvulus Waitaha Native Plant ( Convolvulus waitaha ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coprosma Autumnalis Native Plant
Coprosma autumnalis
Coprosma Autumnalis Native Plant ( Coprosma autumnalis ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coprosma Cheesemanii Native Plant
Coprosma cheesemanii
Coprosma Cheesemanii Native Plant ( Coprosma cheesemanii ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coprosma Crassifolia Native Plant
Coprosma crassifolia
Coprosma Crassifolia Native Plant ( Coprosma crassifolia ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coprosma Cuneata Native Plant
Coprosma cuneata
Coprosma Cuneata Native Plant ( Coprosma cuneata ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coprosma Dodonaeifolia Native Plant
Coprosma dodonaeifolia
Coprosma Dodonaeifolia Native Plant ( Coprosma dodonaeifolia ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coprosma Niphophila Native Plant
Coprosma niphophila
Coprosma Niphophila Native Plant ( Coprosma niphophila ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coprosma Perpusilla Native Plant
Coprosma perpusilla
Coprosma Perpusilla Native Plant ( Coprosma perpusilla ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coprosma Pseudocuneata Native Plant
Coprosma pseudocuneata
Coprosma Pseudocuneata Native Plant ( Coprosma pseudocuneata ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coprosma Tenuifolia Native Plant
Coprosma tenuifolia
Coprosma Tenuifolia Native Plant ( Coprosma tenuifolia ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coprosma Waima Native Plant
Coprosma waima
Coprosma Waima Native Plant ( Coprosma waima ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coprosma X Cunninghamii Native Plant
Coprosma x-cunninghamii
Coprosma X Cunninghamii Native Plant ( Coprosma x cunninghamii ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Corallina Hombronii Native Plant
Corallina hombronii
Corallina Hombronii Native Plant ( Corallina hombronii ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coriaria Angustissima Native Plant
Coriaria angustissima
Coriaria Angustissima Native Plant ( Coriaria angustissima ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coriaria Kingiana Native Plant
Coriaria kingiana
Coriaria Kingiana Native Plant ( Coriaria kingiana ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coriaria Plumosa Native Plant
Coriaria plumosa
Coriaria Plumosa Native Plant ( Coriaria plumosa ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coriaria Pottsiana Native Plant
Coriaria pottsiana
Coriaria Pottsiana Native Plant ( Coriaria pottsiana ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Coriaria Pteridoides Native Plant
Coriaria pteridoides
Coriaria Pteridoides Native Plant ( Coriaria pteridoides ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Corybas Walliae Native Plant
Corybas walliae
Corybas Walliae Native Plant ( Corybas walliae ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Cotula Australis Native Plant
Cotula australis
Cotula Australis Native Plant ( Cotula 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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Craspedia Argentea Native Plant
Craspedia argentea
Craspedia Argentea Native Plant ( Craspedia argentea ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Craspedia Uniflora Native Plant
Craspedia uniflora
Craspedia Uniflora Native Plant ( Craspedia uniflora ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Crassula Decumbens Native Plant
Crassula decumbens
Crassula Decumbens Native Plant ( Crassula decumbens ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Crassula Helmsii Native Plant
Crassula helmsii
Crassula Helmsii Native Plant ( Crassula helmsii ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Crassula Sieberiana Native Plant
Crassula sieberiana
Crassula Sieberiana Native Plant ( Crassula sieberiana ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Crouania Willae Native Plant
Crouania willae
Crouania Willae Native Plant ( Crouania willae ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Cryptostylis Subulata Native Plant
Cryptostylis subulata
Cryptostylis Subulata Native Plant ( Cryptostylis subulata ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Cyclosorus Interruptus Native Plant
Cyclosorus interruptus
Cyclosorus Interruptus Native Plant ( Cyclosorus interruptus ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Cyperus Congestus Native Plant
Cyperus congestus
Cyperus Congestus Native Plant ( Cyperus congestus ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Cyperus Insularis Native Plant
Cyperus insularis
Cyperus Insularis Native Plant ( Cyperus insularis ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Cystophora Retroflexa Native Plant
Cystophora retroflexa
Cystophora Retroflexa Native Plant ( Cystophora retroflexa ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Danhatchia Australis Native Plant
Danhatchia australis
Danhatchia Australis Native Plant ( Danhatchia 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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Daucus Glochidiatus Native Plant
Daucus glochidiatus
Daucus Glochidiatus Native Plant ( Daucus glochidiatus ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Dianella Haematica Native Plant
Dianella haematica
Dianella Haematica Native Plant ( Dianella haematica ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Dianella Latissima Native Plant
Dianella latissima
Dianella Latissima Native Plant ( Dianella latissima ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Dichelachne Crinita Native Plant
Dichelachne crinita
Dichelachne Crinita Native Plant ( Dichelachne crinita ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Dichelachne Rara Native Plant
Dichelachne rara
Dichelachne Rara Native Plant ( Dichelachne rara ) 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.