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
Myosotis Traversii Subsp Traversii Native Plant
Myosotis traversii
Habitat, care, and conservation notes for Myosotis traversii in New Zealand flora.
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Myosotis Ultramafica Native Plant
Myosotis ultramafica
Myosotis Ultramafica Native Plant ( Myosotis ultramafica ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Myosotis Umbrosa Native Plant
Myosotis umbrosa
Myosotis Umbrosa Native Plant ( Myosotis umbrosa ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Myosotis Uniflora Native Plant
Myosotis uniflora
Myosotis Uniflora Native Plant ( Myosotis 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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Myosotis Venosa Native Plant
Myosotis venosa
Myosotis Venosa Native Plant ( Myosotis venosa ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Myosotis Venticola Native Plant
Myosotis venticola
Myosotis Venticola Native Plant ( Myosotis venticola ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Myosotis X Cinerascens Native Plant
Myosotis x-cinerascens
Myosotis X Cinerascens Native Plant ( Myosotis x cinerascens ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Myrsine Kermadecensis Native Plant
Myrsine kermadecensis
Myrsine Kermadecensis Native Plant ( Myrsine kermadecensis ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Myrsine Nummularia Native Plant
Myrsine nummularia
Myrsine Nummularia Native Plant ( Myrsine nummularia ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Myrsine Oliveri Native Plant
Myrsine oliveri
Myrsine Oliveri Native Plant ( Myrsine oliveri ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Nemesia Floribunda Native Plant
Nemesia floribunda
Nemesia Floribunda Native Plant ( Nemesia floribunda ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Nertera Villosa Native Plant
Nertera villosa
Nertera Villosa Native Plant ( Nertera villosa ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Notelaea Apetala Native Plant
Notelaea apetala
Notelaea Apetala Native Plant ( Notelaea apetala ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Notelaea Cunninghamii Native Plant
Notelaea cunninghamii
Notelaea Cunninghamii Native Plant ( Notelaea 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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Notelaea Montana Native Plant
Notelaea montana
Notelaea Montana Native Plant ( Notelaea montana ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Notelaea Neolanceolata Native Plant
Notelaea neolanceolata
Notelaea Neolanceolata Native Plant ( Notelaea neolanceolata ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Nothofagus Cliffortioides Native Plant
Nothofagus cliffortioides
Nothofagus Cliffortioides Native Plant ( Nothofagus cliffortioides ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Nothofagus Menziesii Native Plant
Nothofagus menziesii
Nothofagus Menziesii Native Plant ( Nothofagus menziesii ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Nothofagus Truncata Native Plant
Nothofagus truncata
Nothofagus Truncata Native Plant ( Nothofagus truncata ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Notogrammitis Angustifolia Native Plant
Notogrammitis angustifolia
Notogrammitis Angustifolia Native Plant ( Notogrammitis angustifolia ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Notogrammitis Crassior Native Plant
Notogrammitis crassior
Notogrammitis Crassior Native Plant ( Notogrammitis crassior ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Notothlaspi Australe Native Plant
Notothlaspi australe
Notothlaspi Australe Native Plant ( Notothlaspi australe ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Notothlaspi Rosulatum Native Plant
Notothlaspi rosulatum
Notothlaspi Rosulatum Native Plant ( Notothlaspi rosulatum ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Ocellularia Jacinda Arderniae Native Plant
Ocellularia jacinda-arderniae
Ocellularia Jacinda Arderniae Native Plant ( Ocellularia jacinda-arderniae ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Olearia Macrodonta Native Plant
Olearia macrodonta
Olearia Macrodonta Native Plant ( Olearia macrodonta ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Olearia Polita Native Plant
Olearia polita
Olearia Polita Native Plant ( Olearia polita ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Olearia Rani Native Plant
Olearia rani
Olearia Rani Native Plant ( Olearia rani ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Oreobolus Pectinatus Native Plant
Oreobolus pectinatus
Oreobolus Pectinatus Native Plant ( Oreobolus pectinatus ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Orthoceras Novae Zeelandiae Native Plant
Orthoceras novae-zeelandiae
Orthoceras Novae Zeelandiae Native Plant ( Orthoceras novae-zeelandiae ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Orthoceras Strictum Native Plant
Orthoceras strictum
Orthoceras Strictum Native Plant ( Orthoceras strictum ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Ourisia Calycina Native Plant
Ourisia calycina
Ourisia Calycina Native Plant ( Ourisia calycina ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Ourisia Confertifolia Native Plant
Ourisia confertifolia
Ourisia Confertifolia Native Plant ( Ourisia confertifolia ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Ourisia Crosbyi Native Plant
Ourisia crosbyi
Ourisia Crosbyi Native Plant ( Ourisia crosbyi ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Ourisia Glandulosa Native Plant
Ourisia glandulosa
Ourisia Glandulosa Native Plant ( Ourisia glandulosa ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Ourisia Macrocarpa Native Plant
Ourisia macrocarpa
Ourisia Macrocarpa Native Plant ( Ourisia macrocarpa ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Ourisia Macrophylla Subsp Lactea Native Plant
Ourisia macrophylla
Mountain Foxglove ( Ourisia macrophylla ), also called native foxglove, is a showy, large-leaved perennial herb endemic to New Zealand.
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Ourisia Macrophylla Subsp Macrophylla Native Plant
Ourisia macrophylla
Ourisia macrophylla subsp. macrophylla is an endemic mountain foxglove with a prostrate rooting stem, broad shallowly toothed leaves, and erect flowering stalks.
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Ourisia Modesta Native Plant
Ourisia modesta
Ourisia Modesta Native Plant ( Ourisia modesta ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Ourisia Remotifolia Native Plant
Ourisia remotifolia
Ourisia Remotifolia Native Plant ( Ourisia remotifolia ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Ourisia Sessilifolia Subsp Sessilifolia Native Plant
Ourisia sessilifolia
Ourisia Sessilifolia Subsp Sessilifolia Native Plant ( Ourisia sessilifolia subsp.
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Ourisia Sessilifolia Subsp Splendida Native Plant
Ourisia sessilifolia
Ourisia sessilifolia subsp. splendida is an endemic high-elevation South Island mountain foxglove with one line of hairs inside its purple-throated corolla tube.
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Ourisia Simpsonii Native Plant
Ourisia simpsonii
Ourisia Simpsonii Native Plant ( Ourisia simpsonii ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Ourisia Spathulata Native Plant
Ourisia spathulata
Ourisia Spathulata Native Plant ( Ourisia spathulata ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Ourisia Vulcanica Native Plant
Ourisia vulcanica
Ourisia Vulcanica Native Plant ( Ourisia vulcanica ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Oxalis Exilis Native Plant
Oxalis exilis
Oxalis Exilis Native Plant ( Oxalis exilis ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Oxalis Rubens Native Plant
Oxalis rubens
Oxalis Rubens Native Plant ( Oxalis rubens ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Pachycladon Exile Native Plant
Pachycladon exile
Pachycladon Exile Native Plant ( Pachycladon exile ) is a New Zealand native plant represented here with a sourced image, practical growing notes, habitat context, and conservation information.
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Pachystegia Insignis Native Plant
Pachystegia insignis
Pachystegia Insignis Native Plant ( Pachystegia insignis ) 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.