Native Wetland Plants of New Zealand | NZ Native Plants

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Introduction

Overview

New Zealand's native wetland plants are specially adapted to thrive in waterlogged soils and fluctuating water levels. They play a crucial role in filtering water, stabilizing banks, and providing habitat for native birds, fish, and insects. Key species include Carex secta (Pūrei), Eleocharis sphacelata (Tall Spike Sedge), and Typha orientalis (Raupō). Wetland plants are essential for healthy ecosystems and are widely used in restoration projects to improve water quality and biodiversity.

Wetland plants have evolved specialized adaptations to thrive in saturated or submerged environments. Some have air-filled tissues to transport oxygen to their roots, while others have modified leaf structures or reproductive strategies that allow them to flourish where most plants would perish. Riparian species like Gully Fern have adapted to colonize streambanks and frequently flooded ground with their delicate, feathery fronds.

Sadly, over 90% of New Zealand's original wetlands have been drained or modified since human settlement. The plants featured here represent some of our most remarkable wetland species, many of which can be incorporated into rain gardens, pond edges, or wetland restoration projects.

Karamū (Coprosma robusta)

Karamū

Coprosma robusta

Karamū is a robust and versatile evergreen shrub with large, glossy leaves and abundant orange berries, providing vital food for native birds.

Brevistylis Anisotome

Thread-leaved Anisotome

Anisotome filifolia

Discover the unique characteristics of Thread-leaved Anisotome (Anisotome filifolia), a remarkable New Zealand native valued for its ecological role and distinctive appearance.

Oioi

Oioi

Apodasmia similis

Salt-tolerant jointed rush that binds sediments and filters runoff; a backbone species for New Zealand saltmarsh restoration.

Swamp Astelia (Astelia grandis)

Swamp Astelia

Astelia grandis

A majestic native perennial with large, arched leaves and edible orange berries, perfectly adapted to New Zealand's swampy and peaty soils.

Mānawa

Mānawa

Avicennia marina

Native mangrove forming vital intertidal forests; excellent for shoreline stabilisation and habitat.

Pacific Azolla

Pacific Azolla

Azolla rubra

Pacific Azolla is a nitrogen-fixing floating fern forming red mats. Native to NZ wetlands, this aquatic plant provides habitat and improves water quality.

Antarctic Water-Starwort (Callitriche antarctica)

Antarctic Water-Starwort

Callitriche antarctica

Antarctic Water-Starwort is an 'At Risk' indigenous New Zealand perennial herb, forming dense green patches in wet, boggy areas.

Jointed Twig-rush (Baumea articulata)

Jointed Twig-Rush

Baumea articulata

A robust native sedge with unique bamboo-like jointed leaves, reaching up to 2 meters tall and providing essential habitat for New Zealand's rarest wetland birds.

Swamp Kiokio (Blechnum minus)

Swamp Kiokio

Blechnum minus

An elegant native wetland fern with arching green fronds and bronze-tinted new growth, providing essential cover and biodiversity in New Zealand's freshwater ecosystems.

Tassel Sedge

Tassel Sedge

Carex fascicularis

A robust, tufted sedge with striking pale green foliage and pendulous flower spikes, ideal for wetland margins and damp garden areas.

Pūrei Sedge

Pūrei Sedge

Carex secta

Large, architectural wetland sedge; excellent for constructed wetlands and restoration projects.

Common Sneezeweed (Centipeda cunninghamii)

Common Sneezeweed

Centipeda cunninghamii

Aromatic erect herb valued traditionally for its medicinal properties.

Sneezeweed (Centipeda minima)

Sneezeweed

Centipeda minima

Small, aromatic wetland herb with spreading mats and kite-shaped leaves.

Brass Buttons (Cotula coronopifolia)

Brass Buttons

Cotula coronopifolia

Succulent native wetland herb with vibrant yellow button-like flower heads, highly tolerant of salty and waterlogged conditions.

Tall Sundew (Drosera auriculata)

Tall Sundew

Drosera auriculata

Erect, tuberous carnivorous plant with crescent-shaped leaves and glistening sticky tentacles, found on open clay banks and bogs.

Forked Sundew (Drosera binata)

Forked Sundew

Drosera binata

Distinctive carnivorous plant with tall branching leaves covered in shimmering sticky tentacles, perfect for bog gardens.

Pygmy Sundew (Drosera pygmaea)

Pygmy Sundew

Drosera pygmaea

New Zealand's smallest carnivorous plant, forming minute rosettes of sticky leaves in open boggy habitats.

Spoon-Leaved Sundew (Drosera spathulata)

Spoon-Leaved Sundew

Drosera spathulata

Charming carnivorous bog plant with rosettes of spoon-shaped leaves covered in glistening sticky tentacles.

American Waterwort

American Waterwort

Elatine gratioloides

Small aquatic herb forming mats up to 15cm; adaptable wetland plant growing on muddy banks or submerged.

Giant Spike Rush

Giant Spike Rush

Eleocharis sphacelata

Tall, robust wetland sedge perfect for pond edges and constructed wetlands; forms dense colonies.

Gaimardia

Gaimardia

Gaimardia setacea

A cushion-forming herb found in alpine bogs, forming dense, dark mounds in wet, peaty environments.

Small Mud-mat

Small Mud-Mat

Glossostigma elatinoides

Versatile native aquatic and semi-aquatic herb forming lush green carpets in wetlands and aquariums.

New Zealand Pennywort

New Zealand Pennywort

Hydrocotyle novae-zelandiae

A hardy, creeping native herb that forms dense green mats in wetlands, pond margins, and damp ground.

Trailing Pennywort

Trailing Pennywort

Hydrocotyle elongata

Adaptable native groundcover thriving in diverse conditions, from dry shade to damp areas, with soft, lime-green leaves.

Kirk's Quillwort

Kirk's Quillwort

Isoetes kirkii

Endemic aquatic fern with tufted grass-like leaves; semi-aquatic plant inhabiting lake and stream bottoms.

Fiber Optic Grass

Fiber Optic Grass

Isolepis cernua

A unique sedge with fine, arching stems, ideal for wet areas and pond margins.

Two-tiered Rush

Two-Tiered Rush

Juncus distegus

Distinctive endemic rush with wiry stems and unique two-tiered flower heads, commonly found in damp grasslands and wetland margins.

Grass-leaved Rush

Grass-leaved Rush

Juncus planifolius

Versatile native rush with flat, grass-like leaves and attractive reddish-brown flower heads, found in open damp habitats.

Dwarf Rush

Dwarf Rush

Juncus pusillus

Diminutive native rush forming tufted patches in open swampy ground and alpine bogs, endemic to New Zealand.

Short Rush

Short Rush

Juncus scheuchzerioides

Densely tufted subantarctic rush found in wet peaty turf and stream margins, listed as 'Naturally Uncommon' in New Zealand.

Mudwort

Mudwort

Limosella lineata

Small semi-aquatic native herb with linear leaves, found on muddy pond margins and in specialized wetland turf communities.

Bare Twig Rush

Bare Twig Rush

Machaerina juncea

Resilient native sedge with blue-green upright stems, ideally suited for salt marshes, estuary margins, and riparian restoration.

Orange Nut Sedge

Orange Nut Sedge

Machaerina rubiginosa

Vigorous native sedge with dark green stems and distinctive orange-brown nuts, excellent for water filtration and riparian restoration.

Pakihi / Nut Sedge

Pakihi / Nut Sedge

Machaerina teretifolia

Robust native wetland sedge with yellow-green upright stems, ideally suited for acidic peat bogs and restoration planting.

Heart-leaved Kōhūhū (Pittosporum obcordatum)

Heart-leaved Kōhūhū

Pittosporum obcordatum

A rare and elegant columnar shrub or small tree with tiny heart-shaped leaves and a distinctive divaricating growth habit, specialized for fertile lowland river flats.

Gully Fern

Gully Fern

Pneumatopteris pennigera

Delicate fern adapted to streambanks and frequently flooded ground; soft, feathery fronds.

Red Pondweed

Red Pondweed

Potamogeton cheesemanii

Submerged and floating-leaved aquatic plant; an important oxygenator for freshwater ponds and slow streams.

Long-Keel Kōwhai (Sophora longicarinata)

Long-Keel Kōwhai

Sophora longicarinata

A graceful limestone-loving kōwhai from the northern South Island, distinguished by its exceptionally long-keeled yellow flowers and fine, feathery foliage.

Willow-Leaf Hebe (Veronica salicifolia)

Willow-Leaved Hebe

Veronica salicifolia (synonym)

Fast-growing evergreen shrub with willow-like leaves and long, drooping spikes of fragrant white to pale lilac flowers.

Upright Koromiko (Veronica stricta)

Upright Koromiko

Veronica stricta

A highly adaptable pioneer shrub that often colonizes wetland margins, featuring long pale green leaves and dense spikes of white flowers.

Raupō

Raupō

Typha orientalis

Iconic wetland plant with distinctive brown seed heads; culturally significant and excellent for water filtration.

Forest Violet

Forest Violet

Viola filicaulis

Creeping native herb with delicate white flowers, commonly found in damp forest margins and wetland seepages.

Lyall's Native Violet

Lyall's Native Violet

Viola lyallii

Delicate native violet found in damp habitats, featuring charming purple-veined white flowers.

Eelgrass

Eelgrass

Zostera muelleri

Saltmarsh and estuarine seagrass forming important coastal habitat and stabilising sediments.

Māori Sedge

Māori Sedge

Carex maorica

Versatile wetland sedge with light green arching foliage; ideal for riparian plantings and restoration.

Chatham Island Toetoe (Austroderia turbaria)

Chatham Island Toetoe

Austroderia turbaria

Austroderia turbaria is a toetoe adapted to peatlands and wetland margins. Learn habitat needs and cultivation for sunny, draining edges.

Giant Umbrella Sedge (Cyperus ustulatus)

Giant Umbrella Sedge

Cyperus ustulatus

Robust fast-growing native sedge with sharp-edged leaves and distinctive umbrella-like flower heads, found in damp coastal and lowland areas.

Kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides)

Kahikatea

Dacrycarpus dacrydioides

New Zealand's tallest native tree, this ancient podocarp thrives in swampy lowland forests and produces small orange-red fruits highly valued by native birds.