New Zealand native shrubs are a diverse group of plants that fill important roles in forests, shrublands, and gardens. They provide food and shelter for birds and insects, stabilize soils, and add structure to natural and designed landscapes. Notable species include Coprosma repens (Taupata), Griselinia littoralis (Broadleaf), and Olearia paniculata (Akiraho). Many native shrubs are valued for their resilience, attractive foliage, and ability to thrive in a range of conditions, making them popular choices for restoration and landscaping projects.
New Zealand's native shrubs offer enormous variety for gardeners and landscapers. These adaptable plants range from the honey-producing mānuka to the colorful and diverse hebes. Many native shrubs feature attractive foliage, flowers, and berries while providing important habitat for native birds and insects.
Leptospermum scoparium
A versatile shrub known for its medicinal honey and beautiful white flowers.
Hebe salicifolia
An adaptable shrub with white flower spikes and traditional medicinal uses.
Sophora microphylla
New Zealand's unofficial national flower with brilliant yellow blooms in spring.
Griselinia littoralis
A hardy shrub with glossy apple-green leaves, perfect for hedging and coastal gardens.
Pittosporum tenuifolium
An elegant shrub with wavy-edged leaves and small fragrant flowers, excellent for hedging.
Dodonaea viscosa
A tough, fast-growing shrub with unique seed capsules and striking purplish foliage forms.
Olearia paniculata
A coastal tree daisy with attractive wavy-edged leaves and sweet-scented white flowers.
Pseudowintera colorata
The native pepper tree with spicy leaves and striking red-spotted foliage in winter.
Coprosma acerosa
Low-growing coastal shrub with distinctive wire-like branches and translucent blue berries. Important for dune stabilization and coastal restoration.
Shiny karamu is a glossy-leaved shrub with orange fruit, found in lowland forests and forest margins throughout New Zealand.
Learn moreCoprosma rhamnoides is a small-leaved shrub found in a variety of habitats, valued for its resilience and bird-attracting berries.
Learn moreTaupata is a hardy coastal shrub with thick, glossy leaves and orange berries, ideal for windbreaks and coastal gardens.
Agathis australis
A majestic conifer, renowned for its massive trunk and longevity, once dominating northern New Zealand forests.
A small native tree with glossy leaves and black seeds surrounded by bright red flesh, often used in landscaping.
Wineberry is a fast-growing shrub or small tree with edible red berries, attractive to birds and found in regenerating forests.
Austroderia toetoe
Toetoe is a tall, graceful grass with feathery flower plumes, often used for shelter and weaving.
Beilschmiedia tarairi
Taraire is a broadleaf tree with large, dark green leaves and purple fruit, important for native birds.
Beilschmiedia tawa
Tawa is a tall forest tree with smooth bark and long, narrow leaves, producing edible purple fruit.
Dacrycarpus dacrydioides
Kahikatea is New Zealand's tallest native tree, found in wetlands and valued for its white berries and timber.
Dacrydium cupressinum
Rimu is a graceful conifer with drooping branchlets and reddish wood, a keystone species in native forests.
Dicksonia fibrosa
Wheki-ponga is a tree fern with thick, fibrous trunks and large, arching fronds, common in damp forests.
Dicksonia squarrosa
Wheki is a hardy tree fern with slender trunks and rough, shaggy bases, thriving in a range of habitats.
Didymocheton spectabilis is a rare or little-known New Zealand shrub or small tree, valued for its unique foliage and form in native plantings.
Knightia excelsa
Rewarewa is a tall tree with narrow leaves and striking red bottlebrush flowers, attracting nectar-feeding birds.
Kunzea ericoides
Kanuka is a fast-growing shrub or small tree with fine foliage and masses of tiny white flowers in summer.
Leptopteris superba
Prince of Wales feathers is a delicate fern with finely divided, feathery fronds, found in moist forests.
Metrosideros excelsa
Pohutukawa is the iconic coastal tree with brilliant red flowers, known as the New Zealand Christmas tree.
Metrosideros robusta
Rata is a climbing or tree-forming species with vibrant red flowers, important for forest ecosystems.
Miniature toetoe
Miniature toetoe is a compact grass with soft, golden flower heads, ideal for small gardens and borders.
Mountain snowberry is a low shrub with small white berries and leathery leaves, found in alpine and subalpine areas.
Native foxglove
Native foxglove is a perennial herb with large, white to pink tubular flowers, thriving in moist, shady sites.
Gunnera hamiltonii
Gunnera hamiltonii is a prostrate, mat-forming perennial native to New Zealand, with small, rounded leaves and creeping rhizomes. It thrives in damp, open habitats and is valued for erosion control and as a ground cover in gardens.