 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 1 - 2 weeks Pricking out: 1 - 2 months after sowing Tips: quick and easy |
Anthosachne solandri (formerly Elymus, native wheatgrass, blue wheatgrass) belongs to one of the largest plant families in New Zealand, Poaceae, the grasses. There are over 400 grass species here, only half of which are native. Blue wheatgrass is one of six New Zealand endemics in its genus, most of which are outcompeted by introduced grasses and are now at risk in the wild. A. solandri, though slightly more scarce in the upper North, grows all over the country from sea level to about 1500 meters colonising rocky cliffs, river beds and screes as well as tussock lands. Its leaves are variously flat, rolled or folded giving it a slightly limp and wilted look.
Blue wheatgrass is named for its often intensely blue chalky appearance. This chalky coating is epicuticular wax, crystaline projections from the leaf surface that plants make from a range of organic compounds. Their main purpose is water repellency and moisture retention, but they can also confer UV light reflection, self-cleaning and anti-climb properties to the plant surface.
This plant does not tolerate wet or humid climates preferring airy, sunny conditions.
Blue wheatgrass is named for its often intensely blue chalky appearance. This chalky coating is epicuticular wax, crystaline projections from the leaf surface that plants make from a range of organic compounds. Their main purpose is water repellency and moisture retention, but they can also confer UV light reflection, self-cleaning and anti-climb properties to the plant surface.
This plant does not tolerate wet or humid climates preferring airy, sunny conditions.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 6 - 8 weeks Pricking out: 6 - 12 months after sowing. Can be done sooner but they're so small it's hardly worth it Tips: variable germination |
Carex pumila (sand sedge) is a delightful little coastal plant whose wiry rhizomes creep along under the sand, and for that reason it’s a valuable sand binder in dune ecosystems. Set against the stiff, blue-green curving leaves, are large tear drop shaped seeds coloured various shades of greenish yellow, gold, orange and brown, turning darker brown when ripe and falling away from the stem at a touch.
Like one of its fiercest competitors, exotic marram grass, sand sedge is able to exploit its rhizomatous nature and extend its range without the need for seed. Some populations around our coast apparently don’t seed at all while others are reliably prolific. This lack of reliance on seed does seem to be reflected in low seed viability and uneven germination rates.
Though Carex pumila's success is reflected in its widespread global distribution, Wellington has very few dune systems left, most lost to development, so it’s not surprising we don't see more of this little ('pumila') gem.
Like one of its fiercest competitors, exotic marram grass, sand sedge is able to exploit its rhizomatous nature and extend its range without the need for seed. Some populations around our coast apparently don’t seed at all while others are reliably prolific. This lack of reliance on seed does seem to be reflected in low seed viability and uneven germination rates.
Though Carex pumila's success is reflected in its widespread global distribution, Wellington has very few dune systems left, most lost to development, so it’s not surprising we don't see more of this little ('pumila') gem.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 4 - 5 weeks but can take longer Pricking out: 6 - 9 months after sowing Tips: a slow grower, young seedlings sit for a long time before making their first stems |
Apodasmia similis (jointed wire rush, oioi) is a distinctive rush that is happy in a wide range of habitats; wetlands, estuaries, sand dunes and muddy bogs, and for this reason is easy to grow with very little specific care. The seeds will fall easily from the seed heads even when not ripe so have a close look to make sure they have a pale brownish rather than a greenish tinge.
Apodasmia meaning 'separated' refers to the distribution of the genus in Australia, South America and New Zealand reflecting a Gondwanan origin. i.e. along with tuatara, it inhabited Gondwanaland, the supercontinent that up until roughly 130 million years ago when it began to break up, encompassed the entire Southern Hemisphere.
This versatile and resilient plant is incredibly valuable in restoration, purifying water, removing toxins and trapping sediment to create and maintain the water-holding ability of bogs and wetlands (as well as resist tidal erosion) and over centuries creates deep layers of peat, the best carbon sink on the planet.
Lived with the dinosaurs, saving the planet, gorgeous in the garden, what's not to love !!!!
Apodasmia meaning 'separated' refers to the distribution of the genus in Australia, South America and New Zealand reflecting a Gondwanan origin. i.e. along with tuatara, it inhabited Gondwanaland, the supercontinent that up until roughly 130 million years ago when it began to break up, encompassed the entire Southern Hemisphere.
This versatile and resilient plant is incredibly valuable in restoration, purifying water, removing toxins and trapping sediment to create and maintain the water-holding ability of bogs and wetlands (as well as resist tidal erosion) and over centuries creates deep layers of peat, the best carbon sink on the planet.
Lived with the dinosaurs, saving the planet, gorgeous in the garden, what's not to love !!!!
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh or CMS 1 - 2 months Germination: 3 - 12 weeks Pricking out: 7 - 8 months after sowing Tips: ensure good air flow. Avoid regular overhead watering and expect fairly high losses in young seedlings |
Astelia fragrans (bush flax, bush lily, kakaha), is one of about 25 Astelia species found around the Pacific, the genus being centered in New Zealand with 15 endemic species. They inhabit almost all environments, from coast to forest to alpine and display a diverse range of forms from huge flax-like ones to tiny, highly reduced, mat forming species. Kakaha is one of our largest and most common, found throughout the country.
Astelia are unisexual which is why you might notice plants that never fruit. On female plants, the fragrant green-yellow flowers hidden right in the centre of the plant, swell to unmissable bright orange fruits loved by birds. These plants store water in the bases of their leaves making them extremely drought tolerant and they’ll collapse suddenly if over watered or faced with high humidity. Needless to say, keep them on the dry side!
They are slow growers taking their time to establish good roots due to the dual nature of their water storage strategy, so they develop big tops long before big roots. Allow two years from sowing to get a good sized chunky plant.
Astelia are unisexual which is why you might notice plants that never fruit. On female plants, the fragrant green-yellow flowers hidden right in the centre of the plant, swell to unmissable bright orange fruits loved by birds. These plants store water in the bases of their leaves making them extremely drought tolerant and they’ll collapse suddenly if over watered or faced with high humidity. Needless to say, keep them on the dry side!
They are slow growers taking their time to establish good roots due to the dual nature of their water storage strategy, so they develop big tops long before big roots. Allow two years from sowing to get a good sized chunky plant.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 2 - 3 weeks Pricking out: 1 - 2 months after sowing Tips: very easy |
Horokaka, New Zealand ice plant (Disphyma australe subsp. australe). This little xerophile is happy in the most dry and inhospitable habitats and has evolved a truly brilliant seed dispersal mechanism to cope with the lack of water. The capsule is hygrochastic so when it gets wet, it quickly opens. Show this to the kids its like a magic trick ! The seeds are housed below the star shaped membrane in the centre. Once the capsule is full of water and rain drops continue to land on the thin membrane, the pressure squirts the seeds from the capsule which then closes when it dries out. Not surprisingly, in response to such little water, it is very quick to germinate. It flowers and fruits all year round so can be collected anytime.
Traditionally this plant was used to treat skin in a similar way to aloe vera and both the unripe capsules and leaves are edible, the leaves apparently make very good pickle though I haven't tried this myself !
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 2 - 3 weeks Pricking out: 1.5 - 2 months after sowing Tips: very easy |
Like Apodasmia, Muehlenbeckia complexa var. complexa (Small-leaved pohuehue, scrub pohuehue, wire vine) is also of Gondwanan origin. It's extremely easy to grow and is a very important member of the coastal plant community stabilizing land and forming unique habitat. It provides refuge and food for insects such as the beautiful little copper butterfly as well as lizards and birds. It will cover anything (!) including some of our worst weeds like blackberry, as well as the crumbliest of rock faces and ugly wire fences making it a great landscaping plant that lends itself beautifully to complex topiary. If you have a hot dry section this is the plant for you.
Though most fruits develop from the ovary of a flower, Muehlenbeckia fruit is the swollen flower (petals and sepals) which is obvious in its shape. This unique fruit is quite dense and doesn't break down in the same way as many fleshy fruits using the 'sieve mushing' technique, so leaving the fruit to dry before trying to remove the seeds is marginally easier.
Though most fruits develop from the ovary of a flower, Muehlenbeckia fruit is the swollen flower (petals and sepals) which is obvious in its shape. This unique fruit is quite dense and doesn't break down in the same way as many fleshy fruits using the 'sieve mushing' technique, so leaving the fruit to dry before trying to remove the seeds is marginally easier.
 |  | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 1.5 - 3.5 weeks Pricking out: 2.5 - 4.5 months after sowing Tips: very easy. Tolerates very hard pruning |
The unique tree Fuchsia (Kotukutuku, Fuchsia excorticata) is the worlds largest fuchsia and is named for its flaking reddish-brown bark. Found all over Aotearoa this is one of our few deciduous trees dropping most of its leaves in winter. The colourful flowers are either hermaphrodite (these bear the striking bright blue pollen) or female, on different trees (gynodioecious) and arise directly from the branches (ramiflory), or trunk (cauliflory). Fuchsia is another easy one to propagate, even a stray piece of stem dropped to the ground will sprout roots and spring to life on damp soil. The berries are dark reddish purple when ripe (they were once quite popular for making jam) and contain many hundreds of minute seeds.
Germination continues over a period of time so to even it out you can cold moist stratify for a month. I tend to avoid any processing that is not entirely needed and as these seedlings will sit happily in a seed tray for years and still be pricked out with excellent success rates, I just sow the seed fresh after removing from the berries. Fuchsia can become very tall and leggy without pruning so give it the best chance at stability by pruning it into bushiness early on.
Germination continues over a period of time so to even it out you can cold moist stratify for a month. I tend to avoid any processing that is not entirely needed and as these seedlings will sit happily in a seed tray for years and still be pricked out with excellent success rates, I just sow the seed fresh after removing from the berries. Fuchsia can become very tall and leggy without pruning so give it the best chance at stability by pruning it into bushiness early on.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 4 - 8 weeks Pricking out: 3 - 6 months after sowing Tips: prone to damping off |
There's no more iconic sight than flaxes harakeke (Phormium tenax) and wharariki (Phormium cookianum subsp. hookeri, mountain flax) with tui drawn from miles around for the nectar. Phormium cookianum is usually ready to collect earlier than P. tenax when the seed pods begin to twist and dry but have not yet split. They will split fully after collection spilling out the many seeds which need no other processing.
Flax is well known for its high quality fibre and after a long history of manual production by Maori, European settlement saw an explosion in mechanised flax mills (using predominantly P. tenax) from about the 1860's. The industry boomed in the late 1800's accounting for about 5% of NZ's main exports. In the early 1900's yellow leaf disease devastated flax populations and after the global depression hit, the industry was crippled by the 1930's . At present yellow leaf disease is sweeping through like a slow fire wiping out huge portions of the population. This bacterial disease is spread easily by leaf hoppers and completely kills the plant so if you have it in your garden the plants need to be removed. Once the disease has run its course, populations will slowly recover.
Flax is well known for its high quality fibre and after a long history of manual production by Maori, European settlement saw an explosion in mechanised flax mills (using predominantly P. tenax) from about the 1860's. The industry boomed in the late 1800's accounting for about 5% of NZ's main exports. In the early 1900's yellow leaf disease devastated flax populations and after the global depression hit, the industry was crippled by the 1930's . At present yellow leaf disease is sweeping through like a slow fire wiping out huge portions of the population. This bacterial disease is spread easily by leaf hoppers and completely kills the plant so if you have it in your garden the plants need to be removed. Once the disease has run its course, populations will slowly recover.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: CMS 3 months or sow fresh Germination: 8 - 10 weeks Pricking out: 4.5 - 7 months after sowing Tips: loved by leaf roller caterpillars |
Pigeonwood (Hedycarya arborea, Porokaiwhiri) a common shade tree in damper soils found throughout the country (with the exception of the lower eastern South Island) is endemic to NZ and the only species in the Monimiaceae family that occurs here. Named for being a favoured food of kereru, recent study suggests they may only go for it when nothing more tasty is available, and as it has a long fruiting season, it's not surprisingly a good back up.
This is a reliable restoration tree being easy to propagate and fast growing. The fruit is very dense so a good way to clean it off is to rough up the outer surface and leave to ferment in water till it softens enough to scrub off in a sieve.
This is a reliable restoration tree being easy to propagate and fast growing. The fruit is very dense so a good way to clean it off is to rough up the outer surface and leave to ferment in water till it softens enough to scrub off in a sieve.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 3 - 4 weeks Pricking out: 2 - 2.5 months after sowing Tips: easy |
New Zealand has about 40 native and 10 naturalised species of Poa. Silver tussock (Poa cita) is one of the shorter tussocks common at lower altitudes which, along with Festuca, once made up almost 45% of our native grasslands much of which was a result of burning beech and other forest types by Maori. European settlers quickly discovered the value of these grasslands for grazing, burning off the tussocks and sowing introduced grasses. This practice quickly led to the spread of aggressive introduced weeds and combined with increasing grazing pressure, led early botanists to express their concerns about the threat to lowland tussock diversity.
Silver tussock is a feature of Wellington's coastal and lower montane environments, is super quick and easy to grow and will be happy in spots where nothing else will. As with most grasses check that the seed is a nice light brown colour rather than green before collecting.
Silver tussock is a feature of Wellington's coastal and lower montane environments, is super quick and easy to grow and will be happy in spots where nothing else will. As with most grasses check that the seed is a nice light brown colour rather than green before collecting.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: ~ 7 weeks Pricking out: 8 - 12 months after sowing My germination data is not great for this species so could be more variation than I've recorded Tips: very prone to damping off, prick out once new seedlings have good stem hardiness |
Kawakawa (Piper excelsum subsp. excelsum) is well known for its numerous medicinal uses. Traditionally used for almost everything (!) it is still widely used for skin conditions and makes a really delicious tea that is a great general tonic and blood cleanser. The fruit is also delicious, it has a passionfuit taste though I tend to NOT chew the seeds, they're pretty hot !
The leaves are toxic to most herbivores but our native looper caterpillar Cleora scriptaria being immune to the toxins, grazes heavily on the plants sometimes leaving more holes than leaf ! The fruit is made up of the whole inflorescence as the tiny flowers swell and fuse together. The fruit is very soft making the seeds easy to separate.
Previously Macropiper, this genus is now considered more closely related to the rest of the Piper species which include black pepper, Piper nigrum, and kava, Piper methysticum, and is a huge genus of about 2000 species ! Before you start shaking your fists at these pesky taxonomists, consider one of the functions of taxonomic nomenclature, to reflect evolutionary relationships, so this name now tells a more accurate story of the relationship of the Pacific Piper species to the rest of the pepper plants.
The leaves are toxic to most herbivores but our native looper caterpillar Cleora scriptaria being immune to the toxins, grazes heavily on the plants sometimes leaving more holes than leaf ! The fruit is made up of the whole inflorescence as the tiny flowers swell and fuse together. The fruit is very soft making the seeds easy to separate.
Previously Macropiper, this genus is now considered more closely related to the rest of the Piper species which include black pepper, Piper nigrum, and kava, Piper methysticum, and is a huge genus of about 2000 species ! Before you start shaking your fists at these pesky taxonomists, consider one of the functions of taxonomic nomenclature, to reflect evolutionary relationships, so this name now tells a more accurate story of the relationship of the Pacific Piper species to the rest of the pepper plants.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 6 - 7 weeks Pricking out: 2.5 - 5 months after sowing Tips: easy. A fast grower at first but a good sized plant takes a couple of years to produce |
Aciphylla squarrosa var. squarrosa (Taramea, speargrass, Spaniard) is definitely up there in the 'coolest Wellington plant ever' category. The 38 species of native spear grass (mostly inhabiting alpine areas) announce their presence like few others and here in Wellington they are an iconic feature of the south coast and lower montane areas. They have the clever ability of being able to outcompete grasses by sending up a central spike of stiff leaves that then flatten out, pressing the grasses back out of their way. Sadly this advantage does not protect them from a host of local threats which leave them vulnerable; stock, fire, weed competition and most significantly goat and pig damage. Being a member of the carrot family they have a tasty taproot loved by pigs and the damage they cause uprooting them has to be seen to be believed, it literally looks like a bulldozer has been through!
The story of our local spear grass is incomplete though without the story of Lyperobius huttoni. The entire North Island population of this small native weevil feeds exclusively on Wellington's A. squarrosa population and about 10 years ago was on the brink of extinction with less than 150 weevils left, under further threat from introduced rodents. DOC translocations of the weevil to Mana Island may well have saved them from their dire situation but the future challenge now is to get these two special Wellington residents thriving together on the mainland.
Obviously picking the seeds off the flower stalk is not practical but the seeds will fall off a whole stalk left to dry in a paper bag. The seed stores really well and germination rates are very high so go easy on how thickly you sow.
The story of our local spear grass is incomplete though without the story of Lyperobius huttoni. The entire North Island population of this small native weevil feeds exclusively on Wellington's A. squarrosa population and about 10 years ago was on the brink of extinction with less than 150 weevils left, under further threat from introduced rodents. DOC translocations of the weevil to Mana Island may well have saved them from their dire situation but the future challenge now is to get these two special Wellington residents thriving together on the mainland.
Obviously picking the seeds off the flower stalk is not practical but the seeds will fall off a whole stalk left to dry in a paper bag. The seed stores really well and germination rates are very high so go easy on how thickly you sow.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: CMS 2 - 3 months Germination: 3 - 6 weeks Pricking out: 2 - 3 months after sowing Tips: young seedlings damp off easily |
Coprosma grandifolia (kanono, manono, large-leaved coprosma, raurekau) like all the large-fruited Coprosma is a much loved bird food and for that reason collections yield better results by covering a few branches with mesh bags to protect the fruit from the birds. The fruits of all Coprosma species are edible and are very soft and juicy making it easy to remove the seeds. You can sow the seeds fresh but I usually opt for a period of cold stratification to kick off a good even germination that makes pricking out large numbers much easier.
Coprosma are found throughout the Pacific but their highest diversity is in New Zealand where they occur in a wide range of forms and environments from sand dunes to mountains to forest understory like C. grandifolia. The leaf domatia visible in this picture in the axils of the leaf veins are a feature of Coprosma species. Domatia (derived from the Latin word for home) occur on many plants hosting a range of inhabitants that are mostly, but not always, mutualistic. In Coprosma they house tiny fungivorous and detritivorous mites that studies have suggested might infer a fitness advantage for these species by reducing fungal pathogens on the leaves.
Coprosma are found throughout the Pacific but their highest diversity is in New Zealand where they occur in a wide range of forms and environments from sand dunes to mountains to forest understory like C. grandifolia. The leaf domatia visible in this picture in the axils of the leaf veins are a feature of Coprosma species. Domatia (derived from the Latin word for home) occur on many plants hosting a range of inhabitants that are mostly, but not always, mutualistic. In Coprosma they house tiny fungivorous and detritivorous mites that studies have suggested might infer a fitness advantage for these species by reducing fungal pathogens on the leaves.
 | Propagate Pre treatment: sow fresh Germination: 3 weeks Pricking out: 2 - 3 months after sowing Tips: easy |
Poa anceps (Broad-leaved poa) is gaining popularity as a landscape plant for its broad leaves and attractive cascading habit. It is common all over the country in a wide range of habitats along stream and path edges from forest to coast. Its leaf colour varies from bright dark green to bluish forms though it is easily identified once you have your 'eye in' for it.
Flowering
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Dracophyllum filifolium Earina eastivalis (bamboo orchid, summer earina)
 |  above: Selliera radicans (remuremu, bonking grass) left: Hoheria sexstylosa (Houhere, lacebark) below left: Lophomyrus bullata (Ramarama, bubble leaf) below right: Microtis uniflora (Onion-leaved orchid) |
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 | left: Linum monogynum Rauhuia, NZ true flax, NZ linen flax |
