Leptinella pyrethrifolia var. pyrethrifolia or mountain pincushion is endemic to the North and South Islands. It is found in the North Island from Ruahine Ranges south, and in the South Island from Marlborough and Nelson to southern Canterbury, in subalpine to alpine (600-2000m a.s.l.), usually along stream and river banks, at the base of talus and scree slopes, or on rocky ridges, or near and growing on rock outcrops. This aromatic creeping perennial herb forms circular patches up to 1 m wide, with rhizomes on soil surface or that intertangle and lie on older, decaying rhizomes. It has light to medium green fleshy, glabrous leaves that are deeply cut into 1-5 pairs of lobes.  This gynodioecious plant (having female flowers on one plant and hermaphrodite flowers on another plant of the same species) has sweetly scented cream to white prominent flower-heads (8-16mm across)  that are borne on long stalks (5-10cm long) from November to February. As it is a plant that is found naturally in moist, open sites such as streamsides, gravel banks, shady rock ledges, damp grasslands and fellfields, it prefers a moist soil. It will tolerate, heavy frost, full sun in an exposed site, and is excellent in a pot.