Schizeilema
Schizeilema roughii
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Azorella roughii, formerly Schizeilema roughii, is the most robust of New Zealand's former Schizeilema species, a creeping mountain herb of the carrot family endemic to the northern South Island. Its stems creep and root at the nodes, producing tufts of thick, leathery, kidney-shaped to round leaves up to 4 cm across, deeply cut into three to five scalloped lobes on stout stalks 5-15 cm long. Umbels of up to twenty flowers rise on stalks up to 15 cm. It grows in montane to subalpine grassland and herbfield, was first collected in the mountains near Nelson, and is ranked Not Threatened. Explore more native ground covers in our native plant guide.
Plant Description
Azorella roughii is a hairless perennial herb with creeping stems and branches that root at the nodes, the final branches sometimes turning upward. Leaves are tufted at the nodes on rather stout stalks 5-15 cm long, with more or less fringed stipules.
The leaf blade is leathery, usually about 2 cm across (1-4 cm), round to kidney-shaped, and deeply cut into three to five parts, or rarely into three to five separate leaflets. Each division is stalkless and broadly wedge-shaped, with three to five scalloped lobes toward the tip. Flower stalks are usually about 5 cm long but range from 2 to 15 cm, carrying umbels of (five) ten to fifteen (up to twenty) flowers, sometimes with one to three extra small umbels on thread-like stalks up to 4 cm long. The bracts beneath are linear to narrowly oblong or lance-shaped. The fruit is about 2 mm long, four-angled, on short slender stalks, and its halves are distinctly five-ribbed.
It resembles Azorella hydrocotyloides, which also has thick, lobed, kidney-shaped leaves, but that species is smaller in every part, with leaves 5-15 mm across on stalks up to about 4 cm and flower stalks about 1 cm long.
Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Schizeilema roughii |
|---|---|
| Height | About 10-15 cm (leaf stalks 5-15 cm) |
| Spread | Creeping stems form patches |
| Water Needs | Moderate; moist, well-drained soil |
| Light | Full sun |
| Frost Tolerance | Very hardy; montane to subalpine |
| Salt Tolerance | Not recorded; an inland mountain plant, likely low |
| Growth Rate | Slow to moderate |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
Climate Best Suited to
Suits the cool, frosty mountain climate of Nelson, Marlborough and the northern Southern Alps, with cold winters, snow and moderate summer temperatures.
Regional Suitability
| City | Climate Suitability |
|---|---|
| Auckland | Low |
| Wellington | Medium |
| Christchurch | Medium |
| Dunedin | High |
Plant Habitat
NZPCN describes Azorella roughii as endemic to the northern portion of the South Island. Allan's Flora of New Zealand places it in montane to subalpine grassland and herbfield south to about latitude 42 degrees 30 minutes, roughly the latitude of the Lewis Pass and Kaikōura area.
The type locality is given simply as 'Mountains near Nelson', from a collection made by Captain Rough in 1860. It shares its tussock grassland and herbfield habitat with many other small endemic herbs of the northern South Island mountains.
Growing Requirements
Soil Requirements
In mountain grassland and herbfield it grows in stony to loamy, cool soils.
- Free-draining, gritty loam with some organic matter
- Moist through summer
- Low to moderate fertility
Light Requirements
Grassland and herbfield are open habitats, so it is a plant for good light.
- Full sun in cool districts
- Light afternoon shade in warmer gardens
- Not suited to heavy shade
Water Requirements
Mountain sites receive regular rain and snowmelt, so it needs steady moisture with good drainage.
- Water during summer dry spells
- Avoid waterlogging in winter
- Mulch with stone chips to keep roots cool
Planting and Establishing
Azorella roughii is not commercially available, so it is grown only by specialist alpine and native plant growers with legally obtained material. Plant it in a raised rock garden, scree bed or large trough in gritty, humus-enriched soil where it receives good light but does not overheat.
Set rooted pieces in spring with their nodes resting on the soil surface, water in well and keep them moist through their first summer. Because it is larger than its relatives, it can be given a pocket 20-30 cm across to spread into.
Ecological Role
Azorella roughii is a member of montane and subalpine grassland and herbfield communities in the northern South Island. Its many-flowered umbels appear in December and January; no pollinator studies were found, though the small open flowers of mountain Apiaceae are generally visited by flies and other small insects.
Its creeping, rooting stems let it spread among tussocks and herbs, and its thick leathery leaves suit exposure to frost, wind and snow.
Uses & Significance
Garden Uses
The largest and most visible of the group, making it the best choice for an alpine garden display.
- Rock gardens and scree beds
- Large alpine troughs
- Native plant collections from the northern South Island mountains
Ecological Value
A characteristic endemic herb of northern South Island mountain grassland and herbfield.
- Endemic to the northern South Island
- Many-flowered umbels for summer insects
- Part of tussock grassland and herbfield diversity
Landscaping Uses
The deeply lobed, scalloped, leathery leaves on tall stalks give Azorella roughii a bolder texture than its relatives, and its many-flowered umbels add interest in midsummer. It sits naturally among small tussocks, Celmisia daisies and other mountain plants in a rock garden.
Use it as a feature within an alpine planting rather than as a lawn-like ground cover; it needs cool, open conditions and protection from competing weeds.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring
Leaves emerge from the tufted nodes as mountain snows melt.
- Divide and replant rooted pieces
- Top up grit mulch
Summer
Flowering and fruiting take place in December and January.
- Water during dry spells
- Collect ripe fruit for sowing
Autumn
Growth slows as temperatures fall.
- Sow seed outdoors to receive winter cold
- Remove fallen leaves
Winter
Fully hardy to mountain frosts and snow.
- Avoid waterlogged soil
- Leave undisturbed
When to Prune and How Much
No pruning is required. Cut off spent flower stalks after fruiting if a tidier look is wanted, unless you are saving seed.
Remove any dead leaves and weeds that encroach on the creeping stems.
How to Grow Schizeilema
No published propagation method was found for Azorella roughii, and NZPCN lists it as not commercially available. Its creeping stems root at the nodes, so division is the obvious approach, and its umbels of ten or more flowers produce fruit about 2 mm long in December and January that may be sown. The methods below are based on these features rather than tested results. Do not dig up wild plants; collect seed only with landowner permission and, on public conservation land, Department of Conservation authorisation.
By Division
Rooted sections of stem with a leaf tuft can be separated from an established cultivated plant. Its stout stalks and larger leaves make the pieces relatively easy to handle compared with the thread-stemmed species.
- In spring, choose a stem that has rooted at a node.
- Cut it free, keeping the leaf tuft and roots together.
- Pot into a gritty, humus-rich mix, setting the node at the surface.
- Water well and keep in a cool, bright, sheltered spot.
- Plant out once new leaves and roots have formed.
From Seed
Germination requirements are not known. As a montane plant, it may benefit from sowing outdoors so the seed is exposed to winter cold.
- Collect fruit in January when brown and loosening.
- Sow on a gritty seed mix and cover lightly with fine grit.
- Leave the pot outdoors over winter and keep moist.
- Pot seedlings individually when they have several leaves.
Pests & Diseases
No pests or diseases are recorded for Azorella roughii. In lowland gardens, summer heat, drought and poor drainage are the most likely problems.
Slugs and snails can damage new leaves in spring. In the wild, browsing by introduced animals and invasion of grassland by weeds are general pressures on mountain herbs, though none is documented specifically for this species.
Cultural Significance
No Māori name or traditional Māori use is recorded for Azorella roughii.
Joseph Hooker described it as Pozoa roughii in his Handbook of the New Zealand Flora (1864), naming it after Captain Rough, who collected the type in the mountains near Nelson in 1860. Kirk moved it to Azorella in 1899, Domin to Schizeilema in 1908, and Kirk's name is the one accepted today.
Bonus Tip
If you are unsure whether a plant is Azorella roughii or the smaller Azorella hydrocotyloides, measure a leaf stalk and a flower stalk: in Azorella roughii the leaf stalks are 5-15 cm and the flower stalks often 5 cm or more, whereas Azorella hydrocotyloides has leaf stalks up to about 4 cm and flower stalks around 1 cm.
Related Plants
Explore other native plants that share similar characteristics or habitats with Schizeilema (Schizeilema roughii), offering further insights into New Zealand's diverse flora. These related species provide context and opportunities for complementary planting in your garden.
Plant Conservation
Azorella roughii is ranked Not Threatened in the 2023 New Zealand Threat Classification System assessment and has held that ranking since 2004.
Its grassland and herbfield habitats in the northern South Island mountains are affected in places by weeds such as wilding conifers and by browsing animals. Protecting high-country grassland and herbfield helps maintain this and other endemic mountain herbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Azorella roughii grow?
It is endemic to the northern South Island. Allan's Flora describes it as a plant of montane to subalpine grassland and herbfield as far south as about latitude 42 degrees 30 minutes.
How big is Schizeilema roughii?
Its leaf blades are usually about 2 cm and up to 4 cm across, on stalks 5-15 cm long, with flower stalks up to 15 cm, making it the largest-leaved species of the group.
When does Azorella roughii flower?
NZPCN gives both flowering and fruiting as December to January, with umbels of about ten to fifteen flowers.
Who was Azorella roughii named after?
It is named after Captain Rough, who collected the type specimen in the mountains near Nelson in 1860; Hooker described it as Pozoa roughii in 1864.
Sources and Further Reading
The botanical, growing, and conservation details for Schizeilema (Schizeilema roughii) on this page draw on the New Zealand plant references below. Consult them for full technical records and the latest distribution data.