Hoheria lyallii or Mountain lacebark is endemic to the South Island, where it is mostly known from eastern Canterbury and Marlborough with a disjunct population in Nelson (Kahurangi National Park). It is found in montane and subalpine areas in the upper forest margins, and occasionally on river and stream terraces where it may be found in groves. It is a small spreading soft-wooded deciduous tree of up to 8m tall, inhabiting dryer mountain areas of the South Island. It has thin leaves that are covered in small hairs, widest at base and narrowing to point, margin with many uneven blunt teeth and some deeper divisions, on long stalks. It has white cupped flowers from November to February that develop into a dry narrowly-winged fruit.  In a garden situation this extremely attractive species prefers a damp soil in a sunny site, and does best in cooler climates. It dislikes humidity and will not flower in warmer climates unless it is subjected to cold treatment . It is named after David Lyall (1817-1895), a 19th century Scottish naturalist and surgeon with the Royal Navy, who explored Antarctica, New Zealand, the Arctic and North America and was a lifelong friend of Sir Joseph Hooker.

Carex maorica or Maori sedge is endemic to the North and South Islands.  It is widespread in the North Island but uncommon in the east from East Cape to the Wairarapa, and is widespread in the South Island but apparently absent from Southland and Fiordland. It grows from coastal to lowland in freshwater wetlands, under willow in gully systems, along river and stream banks, lake margins, and in damp seepages, pond margins and clearings within forest. It prefers fertile to mid-fertile wetland soils. A light green to yellow-green tufted sedge that grows 50cm or so tall that flowers from  October - December , with spiky seed heads from November – May. It is a good plant for environmental plantings but has become quite uncommon. It will tolerate quite dry sites and heavy frost, and is great for sun or shade. There are only small natural populations in Christchurch that may have been lost during the earthquakes, like a few other species, but hopefully planted specimens in reserves can restore the population. Unfortunately some populations native sedge species are damaged when contractors trim grass alongside waterways, and are unaware or not educated in identifying these plants and not to cut them down.

Chionochloa conspicua,  hunangamoho or broad-leaved bush tussock is endemic to North, South & Stewart Islands, that occurs in two forms. C.conspicua ssp. conspicua occurs throughout the higher rainfall areas of the South Island, although in the lower-rainfall ares east of the Main Divide it is restricted to Banks & Otago peninsulas. Also occurs  on Stewart Island. It grows in forest, scrub, along streamsides, and in some cleared areas. Sea level to 1225 m asl. C. conspicua ssp. cunninghamii occurs in the North Island in limited areas of Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, the East Cape mountains, Mount Pirongia and Herangi Range, and Ruahine Range south to Cooks Strait. Usually grows in forest, scrub, on cliff faces and in rocky clearings. Sea level to 1500m asl. This is the largest species of Chionochloa and deserves used far more in gardens. It is a rather magnificent plant that can look similar to toetoe (Cortaderia), but horticulturally is far better suited for the garden. It can make a fine plant as a feature in the garden both as a solitary specimen or in a group in a border. It is a very effective landscape plant if it is able to be planted in a large group. It tolerates a wide variety of conditions, thriving in full sun to quite shady positions, but does not like very exposed sites where it gets lots on strong winds or salt-laden wind off the sea. It does prefer a moist soil but can tolerate quite dry conditions for short periods. It forms a rather dense, robust tussock up to 1m+ tall with leaves that can be up to 1.2m long. It has open dainty flower-plumes December-January on stems up to 1.8m long that are usually drooping.

 Rubus parvus or creeping lawyer is endemic to the South Island only! It is found in lowland forest and river valleys from 75 - 900m asl, west of the Main Divide from north-west Nelson to South Westland. A prostrate plant related to bush lawyer, it is useful as a ground cover, especially in rock gardens, trailing over low walls and on banks, particularly in a dry sunny position. The leaves, particularly during the colder months of the year are beautiful tones of bronze and bronzy purple. Small white rose-like flowers appear abundantly in spring and these are followed by large attractive raspberry like fruits, although somewhat hard. It is very hardy, and best grown in an open situation but will grow in almost any soil or site. Its tolerance to exposure is indicated by its natural occurance along riverbanks. So remember this plant when looking for a groundcover to grow where nothing else seems to.

 Carex testacea, speckled sedge or Trip Me Up is endemic to the North and South Islands, although uncommon in the South Island. It is found in coastal areas, lowland to montane forests, in sand dunes, coastal forest and scrub, dense forest or short tussock. Carex testacea belongs to a complex of allied species which include C. devia, C. raoulii, and C. flagellifera. Its habit closely resembles that of C. dipsacea, but it is best distinguished by its usually long trailing fruiting culms, narrow, mostly orange-red, or reddish-green, channelled leaves, and usually distant, pendent female spikes. It is morphologically closest to C. flagellifera (itself a species complex). From that species, at least in its typical form is differs by the usually orange-red to red-green, rather than yellow-green to dark green culms, and membranous, mostly light brown glumes bearing numerous fine, red-brown striae, rather than uniformly red brown to dark red-brown, subcoriaceous glumes. It flowers from September - December then seed heads develop from November - May (but may be present throughout the year). Carex testacea forms a densely tufted plant, 50-60cm tall with rather wide-spreading foliage, that has sprawling long seed heads, up to 2m long that can be trimmed if they become a nuisance. Its colour can vary from green to a light brownish green or golden-brown. The most commonly grown form becomes a rich golden-brown or orange colour when grown in an open sunny situation. This very handsome plant is very hardy and is a great border plant or ground-cover, and is great for coastal gardens.

Brachyglottis monroi, Kaikoura groundsel, or Monro’s grounsel is endemic to the South Island and is found from northern Marlborough to a little north of Waiau in North Canterbury. It grows from near coastal to rocky places to mountain and subalpine scrubland from 150 to 1370m asl. It is a small, hardy, evergreen low spreading shrub growing 60cm 1.2 m tall and wide with oblong, wavy-edged olive green, leathery leaves up to 5cm in length with white tomentum below. It has clusters of small bright yellow daisy-like flowers that appear in from December to March. These flowers are hermaphrodites (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by insects. It is an excellent shrub with a compact neat habit that needs little pruning, making it suitable for smaller gardens. It prefers a sunny well-drained site, but will tolerate semi-shade, and is hardy for most districts. It is great for coastal gardens. It is named after Sir David Monro who was a 19th century New Zealand politician.

 Brachyglottis sciadophila or climbing groundsel is endemic to the central and southern parts of the North Island, and the South Island. It is found in lowland areas, along forest margins or in alluvial forest from 200 asl up to 700m asl. It is a slender, twining or tangling climber, often draping itself over a host plant in a dense mass or creeping along ground. It has stems up to 5m long, that are woody, slender and flexible, hairy, grooved lengthwise. Its leaves are 2-3cm wide, round or oval, thin and coarsely toothed, soft hairs on both surfaces. It produces solitary yellow daisy flowers from February to April which are followed by fluffy seed-heads from March to April. This nationally uncommon species is reasonably common on Banks Peninsula, and is the only climbing daisy. The species is threatened in many locations by weeds, particularly competition from other climbing vines such as Clematia vitalba (Old Mans Beard) and even the native species, Muehlenbeckia australis. Some populations have been destroyed by forest clearance for plantation forestry and routine weed spraying of roadsides.

Arthropodium cirratum, renga renga, renga lily or rock lily is endemic to the North, South and Three Kings Islands. It grows on Three Kings Island and around the coast of and the North Island, and in the South Island from Whanganui Inlet on the west coast and Golden Bay to the Marlborough Sounds, and to a little south of Kaikoura on the east coast. It usually grows on rock or clay banks around the shore or near the sea, and is sometimes found as an understory plant in open coastal forest. Although it can be locally abundant, it is can often be abscent for long stretches of the coastline where it would be expected to grow. Arthropdium cirratum is one of New Zealand's finest herbaceous plants and has a very showy flower, making it quite a useful garden plant. Single specimums can look great, but mass plantings make a good feature, and it can be used as ground-cover. It will grow in various situations from sunny areas to shade, on dry banks and under trees. It can be a little tender to heavier frosts and can be prone to attack from snails and slugs, but don't let this stop you from planting it, as it is a fabulous addition to any garden.

Acaena anserinifolia, bidibid, hutiwai,  or piripiri is endemic to the North, South, Stewart, and Chatham Islands. Naturalised on the Auckland and Campbell Islands.  It is found in, and abundant from lowland to lower subalpine forest margins and in shrublands. Often grows with Acaena novae-zelandiae but can be recognised by the distinctive tuft of brush-like hairs surmounting the leaf teeth apices. Undersides of leaves are distinctly silvery due to dense covering of appressed silky hairs. White flowers from October to January then spiny seed heads from December to April. It makes a great groundcover as it is a very dense, fast-growing plant. Good for suppressing weeds and preventing surface soil erosion and is excellent for growing over retaining walls. It is quick growing and hardy.

Acrothmanus colensoi, syn Cyathodes colensoi or Colenso's mingimingi is endemic to the North, South and Stewart Islands, and is found from the Kaimanawa Mountains, Ruahine and Tararua Ranges southwards where it is widespread on the drier mountains in eastern Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury. It is rather local in Otago and rare in northern Southland. It grows on well-drained sites, including rocky outcrops in montane shrubland, mixed tussock-scrub or snow tussock grassland from 600-1600m asl. It is a low sprawling, bushy shrub often forming patches up to 50cm high and 2m across. It has upright branches with small rigid leaves that can be a dull greenish-grey colour sometime with a reddish or purplish brown hue, and are paler underneath with prominent white veins and down-turned margins. They have small white flower from November, that although have both male and female parts present there are different sizes in them between plants so they function as either male or female. Only the females bear thin fleshed fruits from February that when ripe can range from white through pink and red to deep crimson.

Carex trifida, tataki or Mutton-bird sedge, is indigenous to New Zealand, and is found in the southern South Island, Stephens, Stewart, Chatham, Snares, Antipodes, Auckland, Campbell Islands. Also present on Macquarie Island, in southern South America and the Falkland Islands. It is strictly coastal where it often associated with seal haul outs and sea bird nesting grounds, especially - as the common name suggests - muttonbirds (Puffinus spp.). Usually in open sites, very rarely found in canopy gaps within coastal forest. Extremely robust, compact, light green to glaucous sedge, producing tussocks up to 1 m diameter. Carex trifida has no obvious close relatives in New Zealand, and of the few it frequently associates with, none, except the Chatham Island endemic C. ventosa, have any gross morphological similarity. From C. ventosa, C. trifida differs by its distinctly emarginate rather than acute or truncate, chestnut brown rather than mostly colourless, with red-brown striae glumes. Although C. ventosa is often weakly glaucous it rarely is the dark blue-green colour usually seen in C. trifida. Carex ventosa is normally a forest plant and C. trifida prefers open coastal sites, rarely however, do their distributions overlap, and there is some evidence they form hybrids. It is an effective garden plant , and its deep brown flower spikes contrast well against blue-green foliage. It prefers full sun and a damp, well manured, slightly acidic soil but will grow in almost any conditions except deep shade  It will grow in cold, shade as long as it is not got overhead shading.  A beautiful and popular sedge, widely grown in New Zealand. It s not threatened, but very uncommon in the northern part of its range.