Ileostylus micranthus, pirita or green mistletoe is an indigenous, epiphytic shrub, and it is the only member of the genus Ileostylus. It is a primitive, endemic species growing on a wide variety of indigenous and exotic hosts (nearly 300) in coastal to lowland forest throughout New Zealand including Stewart Islands. Ileostylus micranthus is one of the few indigenous mistletoe's to regularly grow in urban situations. It is also found on Norfolk Island.Ileostylus micranthus is a hemiparasite plant, this means it obtains part of its food by parasitism and part by photosynthesises. It is a woody, many branched shrub attached to the host by ball-like masses of runners with a sucker like haustoria located at intervals along the host branch. It can grow to a height of 1 m. The variable shaped, ovate to elliptic, leathery, hairless leaves are green to yellow-green in colour. They are 20-80mm long and are in opposite pairs. The green flowers can be male, female or hermaphroditic,and occur during September – December. One seeded, yellow or orange berries appear during December – July, and are generally distributed by birds. To grow these plants in your garden, the fruits outer flesh should be removed so that the sticky seeds can be attached to a host tree.

 Olearia bullata is endemic to the eastern parts of the South Island from Canterbury to Southland, but rare on Banks Peninsula. It is found in montane shrub-land and scrub, and common in the mountains of Canterbury. A springy shrub up to 2m+ tall with slender, stiffly interlacing branches, it has small dark green wrinkly leaves that are white underneath. It has small creamy-white flowers  from November to January, and fluffy fawn coloured seed-heads from January that are dispersed by the wind.

Olearia macrodonta or arorangi is endemic to the North and South Islands and occurs from East Cape southwards in the north and throughout the South Island from 450m to 1200m asl. This species is very closely related to Olearia ilicifolia (mountain holly), but is easily distinguished by its large, coarsely toothed and not so spiny leaves that have a musky fragrance. A spreading shrub to small tree from 1.5m to 6m tall, it has rather stout growth with dark greyish green leaves with lighter undersides. It is a very handsome plant and older plants flower profusely with large flower-head clusters of small white daisy flowers from October to January. It grows very well in cold areas and suprisingly copes with coastal conditions very well. It makes a fabulous addition to any garden.

Halocarpus bidwillii or bog pine is endemic to the North, South, and Stewart Islands. In the North Island it can be found on Mount Moehau, Cape Coville on the Coromandel Peninsula southwards, then throughout the South and Stewart Islands. It is found in mountain to subalpine shrub, and as its common name suggests it can be found in peaty bogs, but it also grows in dry places where the ground is firm and stony. An erect or prostrate, closely branched shrub of 60cm up to 3m tall, it's lower branches that cane recline onto the ground and take root. The leaves on young plants are different to those on the adult plants. It has brittle wood that is of little value. Can be grown in a rock garden or in damp places.  Can be clipped to maintain shape. An area near Lake Te Anau in a scientific reserve at "The Wilderness" is an excellent example of the plant growing in stony ground. It is also common around Mount Ruapehu bogs where it grows in open stony ground, often in association with Halocarpus biformis (yellow pine). It was discovered by J.C. Bidwell.

Griselinia littoralis

 Griselinia littoralis, kapuka, papauma or broadleaf is endemic to the North, South and Stewart Islands. It is found from sea-level to 1060m asl in lowland forests and lower subalpine scrub, from  the Bay of Islands area in the north southwards,  and throughout the South and Stewart Island where it is particularly abundant in the south. This very handsome round-headed branching tree of 9-15m, can have a short, gnarled or twisted trunk that can be 60cm – 1.5m through. It has leaves that are more or less oval, that are bright green and quite leathery. It is a very common plant in the make-up of some South Island forests and can quite often commence life as an epiphyte on old fallen logs. It is a great plant for any garden, and may be pruned and kept as a shrub of 3-4m. It will grow in most soil types, and as it tolerates almost any amount of pruning it makes a great plant for a hedge. As it is tolerant of persistent winds, this makes it especially useful in a coastal garden. It makes an excellent container plant.  It was first discovered at Akaroa, Banks Peninsula by E. Raoul.

Lomaria discolor, syn. Blechnum discolor, petipeti, piupiu or crown fern is endemic to the North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands. It is commonly found throught these areas in drier lowland to montane forest, usually at higher altitudes in the North Island. It often forms large extensive colonies by means of it's stoloniferous habit in open beech forest and scrub. It is a very hardy fern in the home garden, and can form a small trunk over time and has attractive rosette of fronds, that enjoys a filtered light situation. Add plenty of organic matter to soil and water well to establish. Grows approximately 1m x 1m.

Gunnera prorepens is endemic to New Zealand, and occurs in lowland to subalpine regions of the North, South and Stewart Islands from Auckland southwards. It is a herbaceous plant that forms wide-spreading mounds of vegetation in boggy and damp places in forest, sphagnum bogs, herbfields, and grasslands in lowland to montane areas. It will grow in both shade and sun, and when growing in the sun, its foliage colour becomes quite intense with the onset of cold weather. The very distinctive brownish to purple-green to green leaves are oval, typically 3 cm long, and carried on long stalks. Male and female flowers are found on separate plants. The bright red fruits develop on a 10 cm tall spike and ripens in late summer.

Threatened plants of New Zealand

The native flora of New Zealand is unique as it has evolved in isolation for millions of years. 80% of our trees, ferns and flowering plants are endemic (found only in New Zealand). About 1–15% of the total land area of New Zealand is covered with native flora, from tall kauri and kohekohe forests to rainforest dominated by rimu, beech, tawa, matai and rata; ferns and flax; dunelands with their spinifex and pingao; alpine and subalpine herb fields; and scrub and tussock. 

New Zealand has over 2,300 species of indigenous plants, with over 30% that are threatened to various degrees or are naturally uncommon. Most of New Zealand’s threatened plants are endemic, meaning they are not naturally found anywhere else in the world.  Unfortunately this high level of endemism means that many of our plants are vulnerable to extinction. Many of New Zealand’s threatened plants have become at risk of extinction in the wild due to a combination of habitat loss due to destruction and/or degradation; browsing and grazing by introduced animals; encroachment of invasive weeds, but also due to population isolation.

Many of New Zealand's threatened plants are available from nurseries and garden centres, but some are only available from specialist nurseries. Even though many of our threatened plants are quite commonly cultivated, there are a few that have been driven to almost extinction in their natural habitat, eg. Clianthus puniceus, Kaka beak.  NEVER take plant material, cuttings or seed from these plants in the wild. Many threatened native plants generally have similar cultivation requirements to other more commonly grown native plants, particularly those that are from the same or closely related genera. Most native shrubs and herbs grow well in average garden conditions provided they have adequate moisture, and they will benefit from mulching. Some threatened plants are easily cultivated and others have specific requirements, eg Celmisia species. Some have good horticultural attributes while others have only intrinsic or botanical interest value. Without cultivation of these threatened species, and people taking an interest in some of New Zealand’s more vulnerable species, they can certainly be lost forever. So if you get the chance, make a home for some of our threatened or naturally uncommon plants in your garden, and you’ll be surprised at what some of our more unique plants can bring to your garden!